FORMER Sunderland midfielder Chris Lumsdon won't be offered a contract at Hartlepool United.

Currently tied to Barnsley for another year, the 25-year-old has been told he can leave Oakwell and travelled to Holland with Pool for last week's stint at the KNVB training camp in Zeist.

He started last Wednesday's friendly with Top Oss on the right side of midfield and appeared as a late substitute in Friday's win over FC Eindhoven.

But boss Neale Cooper feels Lumsdon's arrival wouldn't improve his midfield options.

Tony Sweeney emerged from the reserve ranks last season and, with Darrell Clarke signing a new one-year deal in recent weeks and Jack Ross moving from Clyde, Cooper is well stocked in that area.

"Chris has done well, but he's just too similar to what we already have,'' said Cooper.

Ross is in line to make his debut tonight at Billingham Town. The Scottish midfielder had to stay behind last week after suffering a knee injury in training, but has now recovered after a week of treatment.

But skipper Micky Barron is still some way from fitness. He travelled to Holland, but is still suffering soreness after a summer hernia operation and is unlikely to join his teammates on the trip to Scotland this week.

Adam Boyd could also miss out tonight after being sent home from training with flu yesterday.

Goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos may remain in goal tonight.

Jim Provett is suffering a sore hip and the towering Greek gave a commanding display in Eindhoven. Joel Porter bagged a brace in the final run-out in Holland last week and Cooper admitted: "I'm really pleased for him, he has worked hard pre-season.

"He joined us half-way through last season and didn't have a pre-season programme under his belt. I can see the difference in him already and he has come flying through all the fitness work.

"He will feel the benefits of it all later and two goals in Holland won't have done him any harm.''

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