Oldham v Hartlepool preview

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Korey Smith is set to make his Oldham debut as Lee Johnson starts his managerial career at Boundary Park against Pools.

Smith has joined the League One strugglers on a one-month loan deal from Norwich and is fit to feature against John Hughes’ side.

Johnson inherits a Latics side placed 21st in the table after he was confirmed as Paul Dickov’s permanent replacement.

His first task will be to halt a run of three consecutive league defeats which has left his team two points from safety.

The youngest manager in the Football League will be without Matt Smith (knee) and Cliff Byrne (ankle) who both remain absent.

Johnson has no other injury or suspension concerns with Kirk Millar, Cristian Montano and Robbie Simpson all hoping for a change in selection under the new regime.

For the visitors, Hughes could pick the same starting line-up for the midweek encounter.

The Hartlepool boss has no new injury or suspension problems and could opt for the same XI that started in the narrow weekend defeat at Coventry.

That could mean a place on the substitutes’ bench again for striker Steve Howard, who has yet to start a game since late January after shaking off a hamstring strain.

Antony Sweeney made his first start since January at the Ricoh Arena after his recovery from a knee injury and lasted 70 minutes. He is expected to resume in midfield alongside Ritchie Humphreys, Simon Walton and Jonathan Franks.

Teenage striker Luke James is pushing for a recall, but James Poole is likely to continue his partnership with Middlesbrough loanee Charlie Wyke up front.

Teenage defenders Jordan Richards and Jack Baldwin are out for the rest of the season with respective knee injuries.

Oldham v Hartlepool preview

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Manager Paul Dickov will pick from an unchanged squad against Pools on Monday.

The Latics impressively came from behind to pick up a 1-1 draw away at leaders Charlton last time out and will be hoping to build upon that when managerless Pools visit.

However, they will have to do without Bradley Diallo, who suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury sustained in midweek.

The defender picked up an unrelated pelvic problem in a reserve-team encounter with Bolton and saw a specialist on Thursday.

Reuben Reid is at least a week away from returning to the fold as he battles an ongoing thigh problem.

Hartlepool defender Peter Hartley will return from suspension for the trip to Oldham.

Hartley missed last week’s home defeat to Colchester – Pools’ eighth successive reverse at Victoria Park – due to a one-game ban, but could return to partner skipper Sam Collins.

Jack Baldwin made his debut last week, while another teenager, midfielder Luke James, stepped off the bench for his first senior appearance.

Both will be hoping to retain their places in caretaker-manager Micky Barron’s squad.

Barron has no new injury or suspension worries, but defender Stephen Wright remains doubtful due to the Achilles injury that has kept him out of the last two matches.

Winger Nolberto Solano and striker Adam Boyd, both second-half substitutes last week, are pushing for recalls to the XI.

Oldham v Hartlepool preview

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Oldham have terminated the contracts of Rob Purdie and Greg Fleming ahead of the visit of Hartlepool.

Midfielder Purdie endured an injury-plagued 18 months at Boundary Park and did not make a single first-team appearance.

Goalkeeper Fleming has failed to establish himself with the Latics following his arrival in the summer of 2008.

Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney, who hurt his ankle against Brentford on January 22, has returned to training and could feature against Mick Wadsworth’s side.

New signing Reuben Reid is in line for his first start after he came on as a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Carlisle.

Striker Reid joined Paul Dickov’s promotion hopefuls from West Brom last week on a free transfer.

Wadsworth’s Pools squad have benefited from having no game at the weekend due to their exit from the FA Cup with Scott Flinders returning to the first-team fold for the game.

Goalkeeper Flinders, who has spent four months on the sidelines nursing a ruptured finger, is set to return to Wadsworth’s starting line-up replacing Jake Kean.

Kean has now returned to parent club Blackburn despite impressing during his time at Victoria Park.

Wadsworth has the option of retaining on-loan Newcastle striker Ryan Donaldson after he made his debut in the Pools’ draw with Notts County or recalling James Brown, who occupied the bench against Paul Ince’s side.