Hartlepool United team and injury team news.

Lee Clark has provided a positive injury update on Luke Charman following a recent scan.

The Pools head coach was fearing the worst after Charman suffered an MCL strain but a scan earlier this week has revealed that he will only be out for between six to eight weeks and he is now already 10 days into his recovery. Aside from the injury to Charman which will keep him sidelined for the first couple of months of the new National League campaign - and Owen Hampson who is also currently out - Clark has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of this weekend’s opening game.

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It was revealed earlier this week that Charman was set to undergo a scan on an injury he picked up in the previous weekend’s pre-season friendly defeat against Grimsby Town. The former Darlington and Rochdale star missed the final months of last season when he suffered a serious ankle injury during a win against Solihull Moors - but he returned for pre-season training looking to reach full fitness after putting pen-to-paper on a new deal at Victoria Park. Charman scored in a pre-season friendly at National League North newcomers Hebburn Town last month and appeared to be shaping up well as the new National League season rapidly approached.

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Pools host Barrow at Victoria Park on Saturday (KO 3pm) in the opening game of the new National League season, a bumper crowd is expected. Speaking at the club’s Maiden Castle training base, head coach Clark said: “We've had positive news on that. It was probably the best news we could have got in terms of it. We always knew it was an MCL strain, but it's a low grade one.

“So it's between six and eight weeks and he's already 10 days into that rehab, so that's great news for us, but more importantly for Luke, really positive for him. You know, because we did fear the worst at one stage,” he added to BBC Tees Sport.

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Clark added: “Owen will have to have like a pre-season when he comes back basically and we're excited about what he can bring. So those two are the only ones. The rest, it's a fully fit squad, so a couple of sleepless nights ahead for me and I've got to decide on the team but that's what I ask the players to do and they've delivered.”

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