MATTY Daly’s loan move to fellow League Two side Bradford City has left Hartlepool United in a state of frustration and confusion with manager Graeme Lee now assessing his options.

Daly was recalled from his season long loan early and returned to Huddersfield Town on Monday. However, the 20-year-old had completed a move to the Bantams on loan until the end of the season the following day.

Daly had a big impact on the side scoring seven goals in all competitions. Five of those goals were in the Papa John’s Trophy which has proved to be an invaluable contribution to their road to the quarter finals.

Manager Lee is now having to evaluate the complexion of his squad having lost another player to a recall and explains how the matter unfolded from their end.

The Pools boss revealed: “His initial call was that they were calling him back because they had a slight injury. They did say to me if they bring in a new player then he’ll go out. There is an inquest going on about bringing a new player in.

“I didn’t know if he was going back out. They (Huddersfield) spoke to me when I first came into the job and they said if a League One club came in then he’d come back and move him up.

“He played in a game at Huddersfield for the manager on Monday. I think the manager said he wasn’t quite ready for them yet so he’s allowed him to go back out on loan.

“As you can imagine, there will have already been people in there before you could say. Because he’s missed a few games with us, that’s probably opened the door for other clubs to come in and ask the questions.

“They told me they were calling him back and there’s a good chance he might go back out on loan once the manager had a look at him. They’ve probably assessed the situation and thought he hasn’t played enough in the last few weeks.

“Other clubs will ring and say he’ll definitely play for us and then he’ll go there. Will he play every week? We don’t know but that’s football.

“They’ve had people in their ears and if they feel as though going to Bradford was better for him then that’s what they’ve done.”

Losing an attacking midfielder with the club short of goalscoring is a considered blow with Pools failing to score in their last three League Two games.

Pools battled to a goalless draw against Carlisle United on a night when widened the gap to the relegation zone to ten points.

Lee added that he wanted Daly to stay for the duration of his loan deal at Pools with his biggest contribution to the club coming in the Papa John’s Trophy.

“I was happy for him to stay” said Lee.

“On a night like tonight, he was probably the player to come on and impact the game.

“We know he’s got and what he can offer. He scores goals. His cup games, like we all say, were performances. I just wanted him to replicate them cup games to the league and that was his challenge.

“Like with some lads, you play in the cup games and you’ve got the opposition above, you raise your game and you’re on it a little bit more. Matty did that fantastically in them games and he just had to show that quality in the league.”

Pools are set to hold more talks today with potential targets as the club looking to bolster their squad before the close of the January transfer window.

They return to home soil this weekend when they host Stevenage at the Suit Direct Stadium. They currently sit two points below Pools in the table.