MACAULEY Southam-Hailes could be absent from Hartlepool United’s next game.

The right back, impressive since signing on loan from Fleetwood, was briefly knocked out in the closing stages of Tuesday’s victory at Solihull Moors.

Speaking at his press conference this morning, boss Dave Challinor said: “Macca might be taken out of our hands in terms of protocols. He’s fine with no symptoms of concussion.

“Apart from that there’s nothing else after the game so I don’t envisage any problems.

“Winning games and performing well means that niggles don’t affect players as much as they normally would.’’

Pools take on Ebbsfleet on Saturday at Victoria Park in a fine run of form, winning three of their last four games and losing only once nine.

Kenton Richardson is an obvious replacement at right-back and Challinor added: “We have options who can play there if Macca is out. Do we want to be aggressive in team selection? We have watched their recent games and know how they will try and play and we look at what we want to do and how we, not guess, but have an idea how the game might pan out.''