Hartlepool United set for double injury boost ahead of Eastleigh clash

Lee Clark has confirmed on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Max Merrick has returned to training with Hartlepool United ahead of Friday night’s home game with National League rivals Eastleigh.

The England Under-20 international produced two composed displays as Clark’s side earned maximum points from an opening day win against Barrow and a long trip to Aldershot Town during the first week of the season. However, a thigh injury forced Merrick to miss last weekend’s defeat at Sutton United as former Middlesbrough youngster Nathan Fisher was handed a competitive debut for Pools in South London.

Merrick returned to Chelsea to undergo tests on the injury last week but trained alongside his Pools team-mates on Thursday and will be in contention to face the Spitfires at Victoria Park.

Ahead of the game, Clark told the club website: “There is a little bit of positivity because Max Merrick’s had all of his tests done down at Chelsea and obviously with the facilities they have, we allowed that to happen with the loan in place. He is coming back and he will train with us this morning (Thursday), which is a huge boost. I’m not saying we were disappointed with what Nathan did. We thought he did his job really well at Sutton but Max has been outstanding since he came in.”

‘We will assess’

There could be further good news for Clark as Jack Nolan is nearing a return to fitness after missing last weekend’s defeat - although the Pools head coach was more cautious in his assessment of the level of involvement that could be handed to the former Morecambe winger.

He continued: “There is a possibility Jack Nolan could be available and when I say available, the maximum we could get from Jack because of the amount of training if he does pass through his testing with positive news, the maximum we’d get from Jack is a place on the bench and some time towards the end of the game. He’s missed nearly two weeks of training so it would be a lot to ask him to start the game so we will assess that in training today and hopefully that will be positive.”

Clark confirmed midfielder Owen Hampson and forward Luke Charman will both remain on the sidelines but explained both players are ‘coming along strongly’ in their bid to return to contention.

Your next Hartlepool United read: Lee Clark heartened by Hartlepool United's reaction to Sutton United defeat