HARTLEPOOL United have received early positive news on Luke Molyneux after the winger was stretched off in their 2-2 draw with Mansfield.

The winger, who celebrated his 24th birthday by scoring the equaliser goal for Pools at the Suit Direct Stadium, felt the effects of a crunching challenge from former Newcastle United defender James Perch, who also scored in the game.

Molyneux received lengthy treatment and was carried off the pitch to applause from the home and away crowd.

He’s been integral to Pools success this season topping the appearance charts for the club but his importance has come to the fore in front of goal as he scored his 12th of the season against the Stags.

While the injury looked bad at first, manager Graeme Lee has confirmed the injury is not as bad as first feared: "Thankfully he is weight bearing so it's not a break so he's managing to limp around. 

"We had a little joke and said he milked the fans clapping you off. The lad has went in for the ball but shows his studs and goes right through him but the referee didn't see it. He's got a nasty wound halfway up his shin.

“The doctor has looked at him. They think it is just a soft tissue impact so hopefully it settles down.

“It’s studs through the top of the shin, he’s got a cut and it’s already swelling up so we’ll assess it and hopefully it settles down quicker than we think."

Speaking on the importance of Molyneux this season, Lee continued: 

“One of the good things about Luke is he works hard first and foremost. He does all the hard work and when he has that energy in games, it’s about his positioning and trying to arrive in areas where defenders can’t stop him from coming inside and then it’s about us having to willing runners that go beyond him.

“That might allow him to come inside on his left foot and when he comes inside, I don’t know if a few of us were looking and thinking ‘was he going to pass to Joe Grey or not? Thankfully he didn’t, not saying that Joe wouldn’t have scored.

“Luke puts it back in and he’s done that so many times for us which is fantastic, and to do it on his birthday. Unfortunately it didn’t how we wanted it to do for Luke because it’s a bad injury he’s picked up.