THOMAS Butler is facing up to a month on the sidelines after damaging a hamstring on Wednesday.

The influential Hartlepool United winger pulled up midway through the second half of the home defeat by Southend and boss Martin Scott now has to plan without the former Republic of Ireland international.

Butler has been Pool's most impressive performer this season and he joins an injury list that shows no signs of abating.

Hugh Robertson lasted just a game into his comeback before suffering a reaction to his knee problem, Micky Barron has missed the last two games with a back injury he sustained in the second game of his first taste of action this season, and Joel Porter and Adam Boyd are returning from long-term knee problems.

"Early signs are that he's tweaked his hamstring,'' bemoaned Scott. "Obviously, past experience of that type of injury means we are looking at a few weeks.

"Thankfully he came off straightaway, so hopefully he will be back as soon as possible.

"We've had players come back from injury, then we lose others - that's the way football goes sometimes and right now we are suffering.

"Last year we had three fit strikers all season, then got another in towards the end of the season. None of them were injured and we rode our luck, sometimes it happens like that.

"As a club, set of players, staff and supporters it's now when we all have to stick together. Everything has been thrown against us this year, we've had so many sendings-off, penalties against us which turn games like Wednesday night, and major injuries.''

Pool go to Oldham tomorrow with just two wins from eight and on Wednesday they lost a game they dominated for long periods. The play-off place Scott craves remains distant until they can string together a run of victories.

Scott said: "It was another game which we came away from with nothing - how many times have we said that this season? The better team lost.

"It was a good performance, we created chance after chance and deserved to win. The players were first class.

"We know what our problems are from day one this season. It certainly hasn't been effort and commitment from anyone involved in the club.

"We keep believing and we know we are doing it right, even though things are going against us. That's Colchester, Walsall and now Southend.

"That's nine points we should have had - instead we got none.

"We keep believing and the club is progressing. We are playing well and causing problems, what we need is a bit of composure in front of goal.

"Missing a penalty in the last minute shows the way things have gone for us.''

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