Hartlepool v Carlisle preview

Team news for Saturday's League One clash between Hartlepool and Carlisle at Victoria Park.

Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper is becoming increasingly frustrated over the absence of striker James Poole. Poole sustained a hamstring injury in the Boxing Day win at Oldham and although he was expected to be sidelined for no more than a week, the summer signing from Manchester City is likely to sit out his sixth successive match. But another striker, Colin Nish, could return to the squad after being sidelined since the end of October due to a knee injury. The former Hibernian forward, who had surgery in November, played the full 90 minutes for the reserves against Gateshead this week. Defender Stephen Wright has been released by the club following the expiry of his short-term contract but Cooper has no new injury or suspension worries as his side look to extend their unbeaten league run to four matches. Meanwhile, Carlisle's new loan signing Ben Parker will go straight into the squad for the match. Leeds left-back Parker, who considered quitting the game during a two-year injury nightmare, joined the Cumbrians for a month on Thursday and could start if Matty Robson fails to shake off the back problem that kept him out of last week's 1-1 draw with Walsall. Central defender Peter Murphy also missed out last week with a back injury, but has returned to full training this week and is expected to start, so Danny Livesey may have to make way. Another recent loan signing, Sunderland striker Jordan Cook, is pushing for a place in the XI after making his first appearance off the bench last week, but Lee Miller and Francois Zoko are likely to resume their partnership up front. Abbott has no new injury or suspension worries, but striker Rory Loy is out for the rest of the season with a broken leg and Craig Curran (knee) is not yet ready for first-team action.