Liam Noble is expected to return to the Hartlepool United squad for tonight's visit of AFC Fylde following rumours of a bust-up with manager Matthew Bates on the team bus bound for Dover at the weekend.
The star midfielder was surprisingly omitted from the 16-man squad which went down 2-1 to Andy Hessenthaler's Whites on Saturday, amid suggestions that captain and manager had a disagreement over dietary requirements of the players.
Rookie boss Bates already finds himself under pressure for his job after six straight league defeats but received a timely and welcome vote of confidence from chairman Raj Singh this week.
Now, according to the Hartlepool Mail, Bates and Noble appear to have made their peace, with the former Carlisle, Notts County and Forest Green Rovers midfielder expected to come back into the squad to face Fylde.
Bates, though, has suffered a blow after experienced defender Andrew Davies was ruled out for at least four weeks with a calf problem.
“It is a big blow,” said the manager of the 33-year-old former Bradford City man. “We got him scanned on Thursday and it was bad news.
“We didn't expect it – we thought it was a neuro problem but it turned out to be a calf strain.”
