Yeovil v Hartlepool preview

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Yeovil’s on-loan striker Gozie Ugwu will be involved in the squad for the first time in over a month.

The 19-year-old Reading forward, who scored three goals in three starts before being ruled out, is at Huish Park on a six-month loan deal but has not featured since October 2 due to a hamstring injury.

His return to the squad provides a timely boost for Gary Johnson who focused on his side’s inability to create second half opportunities after the 3-1 defeat to Stevenage in midweek.

“We’ve got to keep going and create more chances over 90 minutes than we did on Tuesday,” Johnson said.

“We didn’t create any goalmouth incidents in the second half to get the crowd behind us and that was really disappointing.”

Midfielder Ed Upson will serve the second game of his three-match ban for his second red card of the season at Deepdale.

Ryan Noble is hoping to force his way back into Hartlepool’s starting line-up after extending his loan deal this week.

The 21-year-old Sunderland striker, who will embark on a second month at managerless Pools, started on the substitutes’ bench in Wednesday night’s home defeat to Tranmere.

Caretaker-boss Micky Barron must decide whether to stick with James Poole in attack alongside Steve Howard or recall Noble.

Barron, in charge for the fourth match following the recent departure of Neale Cooper, has no new injury or suspension worries but Andy Monkhouse (ankle) and Luke James (hernia) both remain sidelined.

Pools, rooted to the foot of the table, are chasing their first league win in 14 matches and their first away win of the season.