HARTLEPOOL United's Easter programme has suffered a major setback after influential midfielder Mark Tinkler was ruled out of both games.

The 27-year-old sustained a freak knee injury last Monday, when falling off a ladder, and he has been ruled out of both this afternoon's clash at Oxford United and Monday's game with Plymouth Argyle.

And Pool boss Chris Turner, who knows his side have to win all five remaining matches if they are to stand a chance of gaining a play-off place, admits it is a blow to lose Tinkler.

"He is going to be a very big miss and it means we are going to have to think about our options," said Turner. "When you lose somebody like Mark it's a big blow.

"His distribution from midfield has been good and he has scored nine goals, so he's obviously a huge loss. He should be back for Halifax (a week today) but we will have to wait and see. He took a knock against Macclesfield last week and then made it worse by falling off a ladder."

Pool are seven points adrift of a Third Division play-off place and their chances of securing a top-seven finish have been written off by many. But Turner, whose side lost 2-1 at home to Macclesfield on their last outing, insists that if his side claim maximum points from their last five games promotion could well be on the cards.

"It's going to be hard but we have got five games left," he said. "If we can win those we'll have 71 points - enough to get us in the play-offs.

"Between now and the end of the season anything can happen.

"We have seen teams who are in there at the moment slipping up and that will help.

"Just last week Cheltenham beat Kidderminster and that could still have a huge bearing on what happens. The fact that Jan Molby has just quit at Kidderminster will not help their cause either."

Pool striker Eifion Williams could make his full debut at Oxford's Kassam Stadium after impressing in the reserves.

Williams has scored three goals in as many games for the second-string since his £30,000 move from rivals Torquay United earlier this month. And Turner said: "Eifion is pushing for a place in my starting line-up for the weekend's game."

Regardless of who the Pool chief plays he expects Oxford, relegated from the Second Division nearly a year ago, to be tough opposition in front of their own supporters.

The U's, who lost 2-1 at Carlisle last week, have just completed the permanent switch of keeper Andy Woodman from Colchester.

And Oxford boss Ian Atkins, who took over from Mark Wright in November, is also likely to include former Southampton midfielder Kevin Gibbens in his side after he signed until the end of the season. Portsmouth defender David Waterman, on loan at Oxford, could also figure.

"Any side managed by Ian Atkins is going to cause problems," said Turner. "We have come up against his sides enough in the past and they will attack.

"They have not had a particularly good season in this division - I would say they have found it harder than they thought it would be.

"But they have a good playing surface, which will suit us, and hopefully we can win.

Read more about Hartlepool here.