HARTLEPOOL United defender Jamie Sterry is a doubt for the weekend’s trip to Leyton Orient after picking up an injury at the weekend.

Sterry was substituted at half time in the 3-2 win over Harrogate Town.

The 25-year-old has played in every one of Pools 14 league games this season and is a mainstay in the team at right-back.

He will be assessed in the build up to this weekend but manager Dave Challinor is prepared to play the waiting game if it will benefit Sterry in the long run.

“Jamie (Sterry) came off so he’s obviously the one who potentially we give as long as we can to” Challinor said.

“We’ve got a smallish squad and we obviously have players that are massively important and if need to bite the bullet and not risk Jamie for one game but ultimately that then means he can play the next 20, then that’s the way we’ll look at things.

“We’ll make a later decision on him. In saying that, Regan (Ogle) came on (against Harrogate) and did well in the game. It gives us different strengths to potentially what Jamie does so if we have to make a change, then we’re pretty comfortable with that change we’d make."

Neill Byrne will definitely miss the game through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season which means Gary Liddle could be in line for his first start in over a month. 

Meanwhile, Ben Killip is also being closely monitored after missing the most recent game with a quad injury.

He’s expected to be available for the trip to The Breyer Group Stadium but will face competition for the goalkeeping spot with Jonathan Mitchell, who deputised in his place against Harrogate Town.

Challinor added: “We’re not going to risk anything. He’s training but what we have to do is, not just minimise but, rule out any kicking or anything that might be an aggravating factor.

“We hope that with a bit of time without doing that then things settle down. I know from his perspective he’s obviously desperate to play but it was important, especially on Saturday, that we couldn’t afford to go into a situation where we had one goalkeeper and all of a sudden, Jonno (Jonathan Mitchell) drops out in the warm up and we’ve got to play Ben at 50% fit and one kick away from potentially rupturing or breaking down the quad muscle. Or play an outfield player in goal.

“That was the scenario and we had to go really safe. Safe in the knowledge that we had a good goalkeeper as back up. It was an easy decision to make. Hopefully the weeks rest in terms of non aggravating factors allows us to pick whoever we go with.

“If not, then we’ll go into the game on Saturday safe in the knowledge that we’ve got two really strong goalkeepers and now we’ve got Patrick (Boyes) in as a young one that if and when we need him, we’ve got a choice. A better choice of playing someone who is a goalkeeper rather someone who isn’t a goalkeeper. Although Oatesy (Rhys Oates), based on his performance last year, might tell you something different.”

Pools go into the back after back-to-back wins over Bradford City and Harrogate Town in a run of form that’s seen them climb up to 7th in the League Two table.