Thursday 5 March 2015 11:10, UK
Hartlepool defender Matthew Bates will be sidelined for an extended period after undergoing minor surgery.
The 28-year-old, has been out since sustaining a severe dead leg in last month's defeat at Portsmouth and it is hoped an operation will speed up his recovery. "Matthew underwent an operation to remove a haematoma deep in the muscle because it wasn't dispersing naturally," Pools physio Ian Gallagher told the club's official website. "We've tried to allow the injury to settle down over time but had he not had the surgery now then his season would have almost certainly been over. "The operation now gives us the chance to progress Matthew's rehabilitation and speed up the recovery process, without rushing him too much." Bates has been a regular starter for Pools this season following his arrival in the summer on a free transfer from Bradford and has made 23 appearances.
