HARTLEPOOL UNITED have suffered a blow after a scan confirmed Luke James has suffered a serious groin injury and is unlikely to play again this season.

He sustained the injury during Tuesday night’s FA Cup tie with Exeter City, and led to him being substituted just before the hour mark at Victoria Park.

“One of the muscles on the inside of his thigh that forms part of the groin complex has come away from the bone,” club physio Callum Davidson told Pools' website.

“We’ll seek advice from a specialist before deciding on the best strategy moving forward and there’s a good chance that he may need surgery but he will be out for a considerable amount of time.”

James had started each match Dave Challinor since was appointed as manager.

“I’m gutted for Luke more than anyone,” added Challinor.

“I thought he would be an integral part of us being successful between now and the end of the season so it’s really bad news.

“I still think, moving forward, that he’s a player I want to work with and, although this is a disappointing time for him, the important thing now is that we look after him and get him right.

“If that comes before the end of the season then great, but if not then he should know that he’s still a big part of my plans.

“As daft as it sounds, as the door shuts for one player it opens for someone else and we’ve enough here to give people that opportunity.

“We’ll have to make an assessment pretty quickly as to whether we go with what we’ve got or whether we need to add but it’s certainly not given us reason to panic or rush in to anything.

“If things become available in the next day, week or month then we’ll look at where we are.”

Hartlepool are away to Harrogate Town tomorrow in the FA Trophy.