Hartlepool v Colchester preview

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Hartlepool midfielder Simon Walton is hoping to prove his fitness.

Walton missed the weekend defeat at Doncaster due to a back/hamstring problem and may undergo a late fitness test.

But manager John Hughes has no other new injury or suspension problems and if Walton fails to make it Andy Monkhouse will continue.

Defender Evan Horwood overcame a calf strain sustained last week to play the full 90 minutes at the weekend and is expected to resume in the starting line-up.

Striker Steve Howard is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up. He headed against the post after stepping off the substitutes’ bench in the second half at Doncaster.

Midfielder Antony Sweeney (knee) is still not ready and teenage defender Jordan Richards (knee) is out for the season as Pools chase their sixth win in nine league matches.

Freddie Sears is a doubt for Colchester.

The striker, United’s leading scorer this season with eight goals in all competitions, was forced off with a knock in Saturday’s impressive 2-0 victory at Stevenage.

Boss Joe Dunne named an unchanged side at Broadhall Way from the one which disposed of Yeovil by the same scoreline, and so changes, if any, will be kept to a minimum at Victoria Park.

Jabo Ibehre, who bagged a brace against Boro, as well as Bradley Garmston, David Wright and John White all proved their fitness to feature at the weekend and will be in contention once again.

Captain Kem Izzet, who has not featured since January due to an ankle injury, could make the matchday 18 as he continues to step up his rehabilitation.

Hartlepool v Colchester preview

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Hartlepool defender Stephen Wright is in a race to be fit for the home clash.

Wright missed last week’s defeat at Brentford due to an Achilles problem but is hoping to return as fellow centre-half Peter Hartley is suspended under the totting-up procedure.

Another centre-half, Sam Collins, only returned to action last week after missing the previous four games due to a calf strain.

Caretaker manager Micky Barron has no other injury or suspension problems and has striker James Brown (groin) at his disposal following his first appearance in over a month last week.

Adam Boyd and James Poole are also in contention for the two places up front, but forwards Colin Nish and Colin Larkin remain sidelined as they work their way back to full fitness following respective knee injuries.

Hartlepool, who sacked manager Mick Wadsworth earlier this month, have lost their last three league games and have not won any of their last seven matches at Victoria Park.

Steven Gillespie returns to the Colchester squad for their trip to out-of-sorts Hartlepool.

The striker missed last Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Bury due to a one-match ban but is back in the frame to face a managerless Pools side who have lost their last three games and nine out of their previous 12 in all competitions.

Despite Gillespie’s return, however, Us boss John Ward has admitted he will be hard pushed to make any changes to his starting XI after the emphatic triumph over the Shakers, arguably United’s best home performance of the campaign.

Midfielder Karl Duguid came in for his first start of the season and duly grabbed a brace amid a man-of-the-match performance. Duguid was one of three changes, with full-back Michael Rose and fellow midfielder Lloyd James also set to hold on to their starting berths.

John-Joe O’Toole returned to the bench on his comeback after groin surgery and will again hope to make the matchday 16. Defender Pat Baldwin has resumed training and is also pushing for involvement having finally recovered from his fractured toe.

Winger Ashley Vincent remains in the treatment room for a couple of weeks nursing his hamstring tear.

Hartlepool v Colchester preview

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Hartlepool defender Stephen Wright is in a race to be fit for the home clash.

Wright missed last week’s defeat at Brentford due to an Achilles problem but is hoping to return as fellow centre-half Peter Hartley is suspended under the totting-up procedure.

Another centre-half, Sam Collins, only returned to action last week after missing the previous four games due to a calf strain.

Caretaker manager Micky Barron has no other injury or suspension problems and has striker James Brown (groin) at his disposal following his first appearance in over a month last week.

Adam Boyd and James Poole are also in contention for the two places up front, but forwards Colin Nish and Colin Larkin remain sidelined as they work their way back to full fitness following respective knee injuries.

Hartlepool, who sacked manager Mick Wadsworth earlier this month, have lost their last three league games and have not won any of their last seven matches at Victoria Park.

Steven Gillespie returns to the Colchester squad for their trip to out-of-sorts Hartlepool.

The striker missed last Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Bury due to a one-match ban but is back in the frame to face a managerless Pools side who have lost their last three games and nine out of their previous 12 in all competitions.

Despite Gillespie’s return, however, Us boss John Ward has admitted he will be hard pushed to make any changes to his starting XI after the emphatic triumph over the Shakers, arguably United’s best home performance of the campaign.

Midfielder Karl Duguid came in for his first start of the season and duly grabbed a brace amid a man-of-the-match performance. Duguid was one of three changes, with full-back Michael Rose and fellow midfielder Lloyd James also set to hold on to their starting berths.

John-Joe O’Toole returned to the bench on his comeback after groin surgery and will again hope to make the matchday 16. Defender Pat Baldwin has resumed training and is also pushing for involvement having finally recovered from his fractured toe.

Winger Ashley Vincent remains in the treatment room for a couple of weeks nursing his hamstring tear.

Hartlepool v Colchester preview

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Neil Austin looks likely to miss Hartlepool’s clash with Colchester after picking up a calf strain.

The defender sustained the injury in the 4-0 midweek defeat at Oldham, which looks set to rule him out of this weekend’s fixture.

Other than Austin, Pools boss Mick Wadsworth has no fresh injury concerns or suspensions to contend with.

Hartlepool’s only long-term absentee is young midfielder Billy Blackford, who has yet to make his first-team debut.

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders had spent four months on the sidelines nursing a ruptured finger but made his return against Oldham.

Flinders replaced Jake Kean in the line-up after the Blackburn youngster’s loan spell expired.

Colchester goalkeeper Ben Williams is likely to miss the trip to Hartlepool.

Williams suffered a back injury during the warm-up ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at Charlton but started the match, only to be withrawn at half-time after the problem worsened.

Mark Cousins came on for the second half and is poised to start his first game since October at Victoria Park.

Manager John Ward is otherwise likely to stick with the line-up narrowly beaten 1-0 at The Valley.

Defensive duo Magnus Okuonghae and Brian Wilson saw specialists about their ankle injuries this week and could return to action later this month.

Midfielder John-Joe O’Toole and centre-back Morten Knudsen remain long-term absentees with knee injuries.

Hartlepool v Colchester preview

admin

Neil Austin looks likely to miss Hartlepool’s clash with Colchester after picking up a calf strain.

The defender sustained the injury in the 4-0 midweek defeat at Oldham, which looks set to rule him out of this weekend’s fixture.

Other than Austin, Pools boss Mick Wadsworth has no fresh injury concerns or suspensions to contend with.

Hartlepool’s only long-term absentee is young midfielder Billy Blackford, who has yet to make his first-team debut.

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders had spent four months on the sidelines nursing a ruptured finger but made his return against Oldham.

Flinders replaced Jake Kean in the line-up after the Blackburn youngster’s loan spell expired.

Colchester goalkeeper Ben Williams is likely to miss the trip to Hartlepool.

Williams suffered a back injury during the warm-up ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at Charlton but started the match, only to be withrawn at half-time after the problem worsened.

Mark Cousins came on for the second half and is poised to start his first game since October at Victoria Park.

Manager John Ward is otherwise likely to stick with the line-up narrowly beaten 1-0 at The Valley.

Defensive duo Magnus Okuonghae and Brian Wilson saw specialists about their ankle injuries this week and could return to action later this month.

Midfielder John-Joe O’Toole and centre-back Morten Knudsen remain long-term absentees with knee injuries.