GORDON WATSON has suffered more injury woe in his bid to return to the table-topping Hartlepool United side.

The Pool striker, who finished as the club's top-scorer last season, picked up an ankle injury yesterday while playing for the reserves at Scarborough. Watson had to be substituted on the hour after feeling the niggling problem and he is expected to go for a scan today. The injury means the much-travelled front-man's return to full fitness will now be put back.

But Pool boss Mike Newell revealed it is too early to say how long it will be before Watson, who has not played for the first team since breaking his leg in the win over Darlington in September, will be back on the pitch.

Newell also suggested that fans calling for the return of the former Southampton man will now realise why the Pool chief did not bring him back to boost his side's promotion push too quickly.

"I have told him he will have to get it looked at," said Newell.

"He has not been running properly and he has not been right for a couple of weeks.

"I just hope people will listen to me now because I have been saying he is not ready for a few weeks. I got a bit sick of it to be honest."

Pool's reserves lost 2-0 at Scarborough after a disappointing performance from the visitors.

But Paul Smith came through the full 90 minutes to help his push to regain full fitness. Newell, meanwhile, revealed he was not happy with the second-string display, he said: "Scarborough were not the best but we weren't the best either."

Pool reserves: Provett, Bass, Simms, Sharp, Robson, Easter, Sweeney, Arnison, Smith, Henderson, Watson (McKenzie). Subs: Batey, Manson, Flockett, Winter.

Read more about Hartlepool here.