IT REMAINS to be seen if Liam Noble is restored to the Hartlepool United squad this evening.

The midfielder was left out at the weekend, after a fall-out with a handful of teammates before their game at Dover.

Boss Matthew Bates omitted the vice-captain from the side when he named his team and Noble’s reaction was to seek out club officials to express his concern.

With no word from the club yesterday over what action – if any – was to follow, the team sheet being released around an hour before kick-off will make interesting reading.

With Andrew Davies, the club captain out for a month with a calf injury, Bates was missing his two main summer signings at the weekend.

Another of his recruits, Paddy McLaughlin, was named captain in the pair’s absence.

Pools take on AFC Fylde at the Super 6 Stadium tonight in need of a win. Their last victory came at home on October 6 when they beat Boreham Wood. On Saturday, Dagenham & Redbridge visit the North-East.

Six points is what Bates needs right now, as Pools have dropped to 12th in the National League table, eight points behind seventh-placed Gateshead and ten behind tonight’s opponents who are a spot ahead of the Heed.

Pools have been drawn away to Leamington in the first round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, December 15. They have been beaten 2-0 by Spennymoor in National League North this season, while drawing 2-2 with Darlington and are tenth in the table.