Injury latest: Three out and two doubts for Hartlepool United ahead of National League match against Boreham Wood

Gary Liddle (groin) remains a long-term absentee while Luke Williams is still fighting to return to full fitness following a muscle injury at Eastleigh last month.

Defender Timi Odusina will also be sidelined for a game following his straight red card at Solihull Moors on Tuesday night.

Rhys Oates and David Ferguson sat out the midweek match but are expected to be back in contention for Saturday’s game after returning to full training this week.

“Both trained yesterday and this morning,” Challinor said during his Friday press conference.

“On Tuesday, they would have been a gamble. Oatesy, he’s had a season where he’s had an injury which required an operation and just as he got himself back fit we went back into lockdown so he hasn’t played a lot of games regularly so we’ve got to build up his tolerance – he’s back in contention this Saturday.

"Fergie, from the Barnet game, had a tiny issue where he joined in one day and felt something.

"He’s one who we could potentially risk without cover but with Joe [Bunney] in we can afford to rest him and get him back to where he’s feeling much better.

"He’s fine, he’s played every game for us before Tuesday night so you expect that he’d be one that might be feeling it a little bit but he’s fine and we’re just being cautious with him.

"Fergie will, fingers crossed, be available for us Saturday but if not we’ll be looking at Tuesday for him.”

On Williams, Challinor added: “He has been on the grass and done all of his rehab stuff. He’s completed a full training session and we can integrate him back into things and look at a plan for him.

"Going back to the Eastleigh game, if it were an issue with Luke that he couldn’t play on pitches that weren’t in great condition then we may as well write him off in this country between November and February but that’s not the case.

"We’ve got a plan that works for everybody and gets him back playing for us.”

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