Hartlepool United injury and fitness news as Luke Charman provides big boost but bad news elsewhere
Luke Charman could return to the Hartlepool United squad at Scunthorpe United.
Luke Charman has handed Hartlepool United caretaker bosses Gary Liddle & Adam Clayton a big boost after his return to training following an MCL strain - and he could be involved at Scunthorpe United this weekend.
However, Pools will remain without several key players including on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Max Merrick - who faces at least another three weeks out which could force Pools back into the transfer market to sign another keeper. Other longer term absentees include defender Max Kouogun who is out for at least a further month with ligament damage and midfielder Owen Hampson until the New Year. Meanwhile, defender Liam Gibson has suffered a hamstring injury and faces a few weeks out.
Pools caretaker bosses Liddle and Clayton spoke to the media at the club’s Maiden Castle training base on Thursday ahead of the weekend trip to Scunthorpe United. Liddle, explaining the latest team and injury news, said: “Max Merrick, obviously, has been a huge, huge miss for us after such a good start to the season. He's still back at Chelsea. He'll be another three weeks minimum, that's the feedback I've had. Max [Kouogun] has been to his specialist, doesn't need any form of surgery. That's just an issue that'll take its own healing process, that's probably looking at a month, unfortunately.
“Gibbo came off at the weekend with a hamstring issue, so I think we're still trying to find out the details of that, but he'll certainly be missing for at least a couple of weeks. Corey McKeown, he trained last week, but didn't quite come through the session so, he's going to be missing this weekend.
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“Owen Hampson, a really frustrating one for him, as he has worked tirelessly to do all his rehab and get to a stage where he can do his work on the grass and be involved in football sessions but again another one who didn't quite come through a football session. Unfortunately, he's had a re-occurrence of his thigh injury. So, a really frustrating one for Owen. So, I think the specialist is deciding what the best course of action is for Owen, whether it be surgery or whether it be another period of healing.
“He certainly won't be ready before the New Year, that's for sure, unfortunately. Not all doom and gloom though as we've had Charms back this week and he's come through unscathed. So, I'll touch base with Charms this morning and see how he is physically. His knee, his MCL is fine, so, he's trained well and hopefully if he gives us the green light then he can be available for selection in the squad this weekend. So, that's a big positive in the midst of all of this.”
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