Jake Cassidy is ready to step up his training and plan a return to the Hartlepool United side.

The striker has been out of action with a foot problem since the win at Guiseley in August. Pools have not lost since then, but have been without their summer signing.

However, he’s due back in training with the first-team squad next week.

While tomorrow’s FA Cup tie at Morecambe is too soon, he could be involved next weekend at Boreham Wood.

"He's been given the all clear by the specialist,’’ said boss Craig Harrison. "He'll work with Craig this week and half of next week.

"Sunderland have been brilliant with us, letting us use their zero gravity treadmill.

"Cass has been on that ever since he came out of the moon boot so he's had a head start in getting back to fitness.

"He's been on the watertreadmill at Teesside Uni and done a lot of cardio work.

"It's now getting him out on the pitch twisting and turning and then after that we'll try to get him out training fully a week today."

Pools will be without Sunderland loanee Michael Ledger tomorrow. He needs an operation to repair a broken nose suffered last weekend.

And skipper Carl Magnay will be back at the training ground today after hernia surgery.

"Everything went fine, it was a straight forward process,’’ said Harrison. "It was a double hernia, so we are probably looking at three to five weeks depending on how the rehabilitation goes.

"He'll be back in on Friday to begin his journey to get fit again.

"It's good for us that it's been done, he's not been 100 per cent for a few weeks now.

"I'd imagine it's a relief for him that all is done and dusted and all is fine and there are no complications so he can come back, get fit and fight to get back in the team in three, four or five weeks.

"Mags is the club captain and he will be missed on and off the pitch.

"But it's something I always say that it presents an opportunity for another player to come in and stake a claim.’’