Lee Clark makes three changes for Hartlepool United v Eastleigh
Hartlepool United host National League rivals Eastleigh at Victoria Park on Friday night.
Hartlepool United have been boosted by the return of on-loan goalkeeper Max Merrick as he reclaims his place between the sticks for Friday night’s home game with National League rivals Eastleigh.
The Chelsea and England Under-20 stopper was ruled out of last weekend’s defeat at Sutton United after picking up a thigh injury and he returned to his parent club for further tests throughout the week. However, Merrick was back training alongside his Pools team-mates in the buildup to their meeting with the Spitfires and he has returned to the starting lineup in place of former Middlesbrough youngster Nathan Fisher.
There was further good news for Pools head coach Lee Clark after summer signing Jack Nolan came through training on Thursday and was deemed to be fit enough to take a place on the substitutes bench. However, Clark warned the former Morecambe man may only be fit enough to feature in a late cameo as he looks to carefully manage his way back towards full fitness.
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Clark opted to make two other changes to his starting eleven for the game as Chris Popov and Jay Benn were handed recalls at the expense of Cam John and Nathan Sheron, who both drop to the bench alongside Jordan Hugill, Liam Gibson, Terry Bondo, the returning Nolan and keeper Fisher. Owen Hampson and Luke Charman are still working their way back towards full fitness and remain unavailable.
Hartlepool United: Merrick, Benn, Hunter, Kouogun, McNally, Ilunga, Miley, Harris, Eccleston, Popov, McKeown Subs: Fisher, John, Gibson, Sheron, Nolan, Bondo, Hugill
Eastleigh: Townsend, Sidwell, Eweka, Dickov, Lundstram, Blair, Hawkins, Akoto, Dobson-Ventura, Cousins, Johnson Subs: Jeffries, Duku, Randall, Rankine, Khumbeni
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