Collins injury mars Pools' last pre-season game

With Ben Clark and Richie Humphreys already ruled out, Sam Collins could join them on the injured list when Hartlepool United start their new season at MK Dons on Saturday. The defender limped off during the first half of Saturday’s 2-1 friendly win at Mansfield with an ankle injury and is rated as doubtful for the big kick-off.

But the good news is that Gary Liddle again performed well as they fought back for a win after falling behind in the first half.
Leon McSweeney and triallist Colin Larkin got the goals.
With Pools’ pre-season games now complete manager Chris Turner will spend the week before the MK game working out his best team, allowing for the injuries, of course.
The side mostly picks itself, with a decision or two to be made up front, another on whether James Brown starts the game after impressing as a sub at Mansfield and another on who plays in midfield.

Brown’s is looking good as he continues his comeback from injury, but Turner has to decide who plays up front between Brown, Adam Boyd and Denis Behan, another who has looked good in pre-season games.
Liddle will be regarded as a defender as the season starts, and that means there is less pressure on places in midfield, where five or six players are competing for four places.
At least Pools have gradually got better during the pre-season games, and the prospects perhaps aren’t as bad now as they looked a week or two ago, and Liddle's form as a defender is a real bonus.
But Turner will be hoping the injuries which have hit his pre-season planning don’t get worse once the real stuff starts.