HARTLEPOOL UNITED go into tonight's Johnstone's Paints' Trophy clash at Scunthorpe hoping wins are like buses - you wait all season for one, and then two come at once.
Pool are unbeaten after five games in League One but had to wait until the weekend for their first win, their 3-1 victory at Rochdale ending their run of four successive draws.
Mick Wadsworth’s side are now looking to follow that result at Spotland with another win as they head to Glanford Park to face an Iron side which gave Newcastle United a run for their money in the Carling Cup last week.
Wadsworth was without a clutch of first-team players against Rochdale through illness, injury and suspension and was full of praise for the players who seized their opportunity to shine. James Poole is likely to keep his place in the side after scoring twice at the weekend, but Wadsworth may make changes for this first-round tie.
Andy Monkhouse (foot) picked up a knock on Saturday while winger Nathan Luscombe is available again after serving a three-match ban, and Colin Larkin may be in contention after missing the Rochdale game through illness.
Antony Sweeney (groin) and Nobby Solano (hamstring) were absent at the weekend and, while Sweeney is unlikely to be risked, Solano could come into the frame.
Wadsworth said: “We will have to see how everybody is.
”We picked up a few knocks at the weekend, and Monkhouse played the whole second half with a bad bruise on his foot after a challenge. I will also have to look and see whether Sweeney and Nobby are ready, but Luscombe is available.
”Sam Collins (hamstring) was absent at the weekend and is unlikely to be fit for tonight’s game while Colin Nish, who came off at Rochdale with a hamstring problem, is a major doubt.”
Scunthorpe boss Alan Knill will be without on-loan Manchester United midfielder Oliver Norwood, who is on international duty with the Northern Ireland under-21 squad.
Defender Niall Canavan will also miss out as he is away with the Republic of Ireland Under 21s.
Striker Jordan Robertson (broken ankle), midfielder Michael O’Connor (muscle strain) and defenders Cliff Byrne (back) and Paul Reid (groin) are set to remain sidelined.
