Plymouth v Hartlepool preview

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Plymouth will be without striker Marvin Morgan when they host Hartlepool.

The former Shrewsbury man is in hospital awaiting the results of medical tests after falling ill during a training session on Tuesday and will miss out for a Pilgrims side who had to watch their play-off hopes disappear against AFC Wimbledon.

That 2-1 loss was their fifth defeat in six League Two games and their third in a row and angry boss John Sheridan looks set to ring the changes against Pools.

The likes of Nathan Thomas, Tyler Harvey, Maxime Blanchard and Romuald Boco will all hope to earn recalls.

Hartlepool will be without the suspended Simon Walton at Plymouth after losing their appeal against the midfielder’s dismissal on Easter Monday.

Walton was shown a straight red card in the win against Morecambe for his challenge on Jordan Mustoe and starts a four-game ban, so defensive midfielder Connor Oliver could be handed his first start since joining Pools on loan from Sunderland last month.

Luke James is hoping to shake off the ankle injury that ruled him out on Monday in a bid to add to his 16 goals, while fellow teenager Jack Barmby, on loan from Manchester United, is pushing for a recall after stepping off the bench to fire Pools’ winner.

Midfielder Antony Sweeney (hamstring), plus defenders Neil Austin (toe) and Christian Burgess (ankle) remain sidelined.

Plymouth v Hartlepool preview

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Plymouth boss Peter Reid will be without the suspended Reda Johnson for the home match with Hartlepool.

The defender serves a one-match ban after being sent-off for two bookable offences in the dramatic 3-2 win at Swindon on Tuesday.

Reid will make a late decision on who comes in for Reda with Krisztian Timar and Lee Molyneux among those pushing to claim Johnson’s starting berth.

Up front Reid is considering starting with young Congolese player Yala Bolasie to partner in-form striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, however it would be a gamble as Bolasie has just returned from six weeks out with ankle and knee problems.

Other players vying for the second forward spot include Rory Patterson, Steve Maclean and Joe Mason.

Mason played just behind Wright-Phillips in the midweek victory with Maclean occupying the same role in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Rochdale and it remains to be seen whether the Pilgrims boss sticks with this formation.

Hartlepool caretaker boss Mick Wadsworth is sweating on the fitness of Antony Sweeney ahead of the trip to face the Pilgrims.

The midfielder picked up a slight hamstring strain during Tuesday’s 4-0 home defeat by Carlisle and is rated doubtful for Pools’ long trip to the south-west coast.

James Brown has missed the last four games with an ankle injury and will again be out, while defender Evan Horwood has been involved in full training but could miss out after picking up an ankle knock against the Cumbrians.

Midfielder Fabian Yantorno (hip) will face a late fitness test, but Ritchie Humphreys (hamstring) along with goalkeeping duo Scott Flinders (thumb) and Andy Rafferty (hand) remain sidelined.

With Rafferty and Flinders out, Jake Kean looks set to continue in goal but, after conceding four in midweek, he will face stiff competition from on-loan Manchester United stopper Conor Devlin.