Latest team and injury news from Hartlepool United as Dave Challinor confirms one out and three doubts for Saturday's match at Maidenhead

The defender, who marked his 300th Pools appearance on Saturday, limped off early during the 2-1 win at the Technique Stadium with a groin strain.

Liddle is the only certain absentee for this weekend’s trip to Maidenhead United but Mason Bloomfield, who also went off during the Chesterfield game with an ankle issue, is a slight doubt for the match.

Elsewhere in the squad, Luke Molyneux remains a doubt after recovering from coronavirus and 17-year-old striker Joe Grey is still yet to be registered with the first team so won’t be eligible to play until the club receives FA clearance.

On the injury situation, Challinor said: “Lidds won’t be available but Mason I’m a little more hopeful about, we’re stretched at the moment.

“Lidds isn’t too bad, he felt something on Saturday from the game but nothing too serious but I had slight concerns in the warm-up when he was prodding and poking but he was happy to play and he’s just tweaked his groin.

“We’re talking maybe weeks rather than months but we’ll just have to see how he is.

“Mason should be fine [for Maidenhead], it’s a sore one but ankles are okay ones if I’m honest because you can strap them up.

"Going back a while but I played in a Cup final with a ruptured ATFL because you strap it up and get on with it, you just have to accept that it may be a bit sore and uncomfortable but you crack on.”

Molyneux has returned to training with Pools this week but is still a couple of weeks away from starting as he works on his fitness.

“Mols picks up covid and he’s missing for two weeks,” Challinor added.

“But it’s not just about missing two weeks, it’s what that takes out of you especially if you’re off with an illness that people still don’t know an awful lot about.

"We’ve got to be careful with him so he won’t be in contention to start at least for a couple of weeks yet but we could see him on the bench.”

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