Hartlepool loanee Jake Kean will return to parent club Blackburn if Scott Flinders can prove his fitness over the coming weeks.
The 19-year-old goalkeeper, who has kept nine clean sheets in 19 games, arrived at Victoria Park in September to cover for Flinders after the Pools number one suffered a broken thumb.
However, boss Mick Wadsworth will re-instate Flinders to the starting line-up if he comes through the next few weeks with no ill-effects.
"Jake has been brilliant for us and still has a major part to play during the rest of the month," Wadsworth told the Hartlepool Mail.
"But we've got two outstanding goalkeepers in Scott and Andy (Rafferty) 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."
Source: PA