Notts County v Hartlepool preview

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Yoann Arquin will be suspended when Notts County get their home campaign under way.

Summer signing Arquin scored the winning goal on his debut at Crewe on Saturday but was then sent off two minutes later for violent conduct after lashing out at Alex captain Ashley Westwood. The French striker begins a three-match ban.

Another setback from Gresty Road saw Tom Williams limp off after only 13 minutes.

Notts manager Keith Curle said: “He got two dead legs against Bradford (in the Capital One Cup) so we had to patch him up to get him out there, but he struck the ball and said he felt something.”

Williams is a doubt for Tuesday night while fellow defender Manny Smith faces around three months out with the knee injury he sustained against Bradford nine days ago.

Hartlepool defender Peter Hartley is expected to shake off a knock in time.

Hartley hobbled out of Pools’ goalless opening-day draw against Swindon in the closing stages and was replaced by teenager Jack Baldwin, but should resume alongside Sam Collins in central defence at Meadow Lane.

Manager Neale Cooper has no new injury or suspension problems for his side’s first away league fixture and is unlikely to make too many changes following his players’ response following last week’s 5-0 rout at Crewe in the Capital One Cup.

James Poole partnered summer signing Steve Howard up front against Swindon, but 17-year-old Luke James replaced him for the final 23 minutes and is pushing for a place in the starting line-up.

Striker Colin Nish and veteran midfielder Ritchie Humphreys have recovered from injury but are likely to start on the bench again.

Goalkeeper Andy Rafferty is still sidelined with a knee injury, but otherwise Cooper has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Notts County v Hartlepool preview

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Notts County will monitor Lee Hughes ahead fo the visit of Pools.

Last season’s top goalscorer missed the 3-0 victory over Walsall through illness and a late decision will be made on his fitness.

Midfielder Ricky Ravenhill returned to action as a substitute at the Banks’s Stadium following the facial injuries he received against Bournemouth in the FA Cup in mid-December. He could force his way into the starting line-up.

John Thompson, Graeme Lee and Stephen Hunt are alternative defensive options for boss Paul Ince, but it seems unlikely that he will change his back four following a clean sheet.

Forwards Karl Hawley and Ben Burgess will also be hoping for recalls.

Hartlepool skipper Sam Collins has been ruled out of the trip to Notts County.

Central defender Collins suffered a knee injury in the early stages of Pools’ 4-2 win at home to Oldham on Saturday and could be sidelined for some time.

First-team coach Mick Wadsworth told Pools Player: “We’re not sure how bad it is at the moment, we’ll have to wait and see but it’s probably his medial ligament.

“He’s definitely not in contention for Monday, that’s a certainty – but we’ll have him looked at and see where we go from there.”

Winger Andy Monkhouse is back in contention after serving a one-match ban, while Wadsworth must decide if forward James Brown and midfielder Paul Murray are able to manage two games in such a short space of time.