FORMER York City trainee Michael Duckworth has admitted he is devastated to miss out on playing against his old club for a second time in five months.
Duckworth signed for Hartlepool, the Minstermen’s Sky Bet League Two hosts today (3pm), just days after the first fixture between the two sides this season at Bootham Crescent in August.
The 21-year-old right-back went on to start 27 consecutive games following his move from part-timers Bradford Park Avenue but has missed Pools’ last two matches due to a double hernia and is sidelined for today’s Victoria Park encounter.
A disappointed Duckworth, who never got a chance in City’s first team after being released following his two-year scholarship, said: “It’s a massive blow.
“It was probably the game I was looking forward to most when I signed for Hartlepool, especially after I didn’t sign quite in time for the first game. That was bad enough but this is a bit more devastating.
“I’ve played every game since joining the club and never really had an injury before, so to get my worst one just before playing York is really bad timing.”
Duckworth, who is likely to be out for up to four weeks, is hoping for a more entertaining encounter than the last meeting between the two clubs, adding: “I hope there are some goals, not like at Bootham Crescent when it was 0-0.
“We need three points and, hopefully we will get them, but we know York have picked up in the last few games.”
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