By Albatross
December 9 2004

In a season that's already seen the Pools squad hit by injuries, there's even more bad news - Mickey Barron has a knee injury that may need surgery. If he does, it will be operation number five for Pools since the summer - and Barron's third. At the time little was said about what it was that had caused Barron to miss out on Tuesday, but it turns out it was a knee problem - and one that is serious enough that he may need to go under the knife. It would be the third operation that the Club Captain has had since the summer, with two attempts needed to cure a lingering hernia problem. Mickey saw a specialist on Monday, and will find out today (Thursday) if surgery will be required. Either way, he looks set to miss more games in a season that has already seen him out as often as in.

This is news that Cooper could well do without at this point. His options on the right are already limited, and with Barron missing the only two players he seems to have to choose from for right back are the want-away Jack Ross, and Darren Craddock - beyond that we're looking at raiding the youth team again, or having to play someone out of position. The prime candidate for that would seem to be Chris Westwood, but as he's shown with some of his recent performances, he's a class act in the centre of defence and would be wasted out on the flank.

It's also another personal blow to Mickey Barron. Our longest-serving player faces another spell on the sidelines in a season that has already seemed to find him more often on the Pools World commentary than the pitch. While he's far from a veteran - he only reaches his 30th birthday just before Christmas - it's starting to look like the wear and tear of playing more than 300 games for Pools is taking it's toll.

Cooper will presumably be combing the country for someone that can come in, either permanently or on loan - but this is just the latest in a long line of blows that have blighted our season. We hardly seem to have a week go by without something going on - whether it's delays to Hugh Robertson's comeback, Ben Clark picking up an injury after just three games, or Eifion Williams struggling with his hamstring, events seem to conspire against the goal of a settled side.