SCOTT FLINDERS made his return from injury last night, keeping a clean sheet as a Hartlepool United side enjoyed a much-needed run out at Horden.

The goalkeeper has not played since mid-September after suffering a thumb ligament injury, but is now back in full training.

With a lack of reserve games and the winter freeze stopping Pools squad players from getting in much match practice, last night’s game with Brian Honour’s Northern League side kept them in check ahead of a busy schedule.

Hartlepool still have 24 League One games to play, with a string of midweek matches on the cards.

“We had a full-scale practice game at the training ground last week for a lot of the lads because we lost a reserve game with Sunderland,’’ said manager Mick Wadsworth.

“We lost another reserve game at Gateshead as well, which is a shame because we need them.

“We’ve done very well considering the circumstances with the conditions recently and I was considering taking the grass out and just putting running boards down.

“With the reserve games being called off it really is retarding Scott and Andy’s (Rafferty) recovery.

“But now they have both played in practice games.

So that’s been really good for them and they do lots of work with Gary (Walsh, goalkeeping coach) who works them very hard and intensely.

They are both in good shape now, which is good.’’ Flinders’ return means Jake Kean will go back to Blackburn Rovers early next month and Wadsworth added: “I think this will be Jake’s last month with us, not that I want to get rid of him.

“But we’ve got two outstanding goalkeepers and I think Scott will be ready at the start of February.

“And Jake knows that; he’s been absolutely fantastic but we have to put faith in our own.’’ Flinders played an hour last night, before Rafferty was given a run-out. Michael Mackay and Colin Larkin both scored twice, with further goals from Callum Hassan and Fabian Yantorno.