Hartlepool United team news explained as Lee Clark names XI to face Barrow in National League opener

Lee Clark has named his first Hartlepool United side of the new season, with a glut of summer signings set to make their competitive debuts for the club.

Pools host Barrow at Victoria Park in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon, and will be hoping to make a positive start to their campaign after a hectic preseason that has seen 13 players leave the club, and 13 more arrive in their place.

To that end, Clark has unsurprisingly hands starts to no fewer than six fresh faces. In goal, Max Merrick gets the nod, with the stopper playing behind a defence of Jay Benn, Cameron John, Reiss McNally, and Liam Gibson

Elsewhere, Jamie Miley and newly appointed club captain Jack Hunter start centrally, with Brooklyn Ilunga and Jack Nolan on the wings. Will Harris and Chris Popov are set to lead the line.

Nathan Fisher, Max Kouogan, Neo Eccleston, Nathan Sheron, Jordan Hugill, Corey McKeown, and Terry Bondo start on the bench.

For their part, Barrow have named a starting XI of Ben Winterburn, Marcel Oakley, captain MJ Williams, Kennedy Digie, Olly Crankshaw, Scott Smith, George Walker, Innes Cameron, Danny Amos, Paul Kalambayi, and Rekeem Harper.