THE long wait is nearly over for Micky Barron - but he knows he still has some way to go.

Hartlepool United's captain has not touched a first-team ball since being hit in the face as he attempted to stop a cross during Pool's play-off defeat at Bristol City last season.

Some would say he didn't see that ball either!

The defender needed a summer hernia operation, went under the knife, returned to training pre-season and knew something else was wrong.

So a second hernia operation was needed and the closest he's been to the first-team this season was as an unused substitute.

He travelled with the squad to Crystal Palace in midweek, but looked on from the stands as Pool went down in extra time.

The best he can hope for today at Milton Keynes Dons is a place on the bench, because travelling to London meant he missed out on the chance to improve his fitness in the reserve game at Grimsby and he still needs more games before a first-team start beckons.

Barron, who has spent eight years at Victoria Park and ranks 15th in the all-time Pool appearances list, admitted: "I was on the bench last week but I think if everyone else was fit and we didn't have so many injuries I wouldn't have been.

"We've only a small squad and there are a few out at the moment, so I was called in.

"Of course it was nice to be out there and be involved again, but I'm not fit to play yet - I still need a couple of reserve games under my belt.

"I've trained with the youth team and I've trained a lot, but there's nothing like playing games to get your fitness back.

"It would have been nice to get on last week but I wasn't needed, so it was a good thing in a way.

"The lads performed really well and I don't think everyone in the ground realised how tough it was playing in those conditions.

"We were disappointed with the goal we conceded, but were quite comfortable in the end.''

Pool go to Milton Keynes for the first time today to face the club lifted out of Wimbledon and dumped at the National Hockey Stadium.

Moving out of the M25 has hardly been the success owner Pete Winkelman hoped for and expected. Gates have hovered around the 3,500 mark and they sit fourth bottom.

But Barron knows Pool won't be worried about the opponent's troubles.

He said: "It has been a big week of the club, with the Crystal Palace game as well.

"It was a good chance to show people how we could perform and we played very well.

"I travelled to the game but wasn't in the 16 on duty. It was good to be back involved with the lads again, travelling away and being part of it.

"Everyone knows what we are like at the club and it's not much fun being out of the picture.

"Come two o'clock, when you are not involved, you feel it.

"I've had no reaction to the operation. There are some days when I feel sore, but overall it's been fine and I would hope that I'm over it now.''

When Barron returns - Chesterfield on November 16 is a possibility - he is likely to have a new partner on the right side.

Ritchie Humphreys has swapped wings with great success for the last two games.

He nabbed his first goal of the season against Torquay last week and impressed against Premiership Palace on Tuesday.

Humphreys admitted: "We were absolutely shattered, we gave everything. The boys worked as hard as they could and we were gutted when the second goal went in. They might be Premiership opposition but we believed we could win and we were ten minutes from penalties, when we might have done.

"If I had been asked to take one then I would have had no problems stepping up.

"It did go through my mind for a brief minute but I didn't dwell on it and was ready if needed - unfortunately I wasn't.

"Once that goal went in they really stretched us and made it very difficult.

"We were so tired by then, but kept going until the end.

"Three points is particularly important on Saturday with the games we have coming up after that.

"We have had to rest, recover and make sure we are ready.''

Cooper is still hoping to recruit defender Ben Clark from Sunderland.

Black Cats' boss Mick McCarthy is willing to let him leave Wearside, despite playing him in the Carling Cup defeat at Crewe on Tuesday.

Cooper said: "We have been monitoring him and want to bring him here.

"He is a player I have admired for a while but we will just have to see what happens now. We are looking at a permanent transfer."

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