RHYS OATES could be back in contention for Hartlepool United this afternoon.

The attacker has been out of the starting XI for the last two games after feeling the effects of a regular run the side.

Oates was left on the bench at Blackpool last weekend, but will be assessed in training today and tomorrow ahead of Saturday’s home game with Portsmouth.

Boss Dave Jones, speaking at his press conference in Durham at the club’s training ground this morning, said: "He was back in the squad at Blackpool but he pulled up in the warm-up, he felt it, so we pulled him out straight away.

"We've been doing stuff with him this week and we've had the help of a local gym to do work there.

"Hopefully that will benefit him and we'll asssess him over the next day or so."

Carl Magnay has made a welcome recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury and was left out of the squad for the reserve game at midweek in favour of some intense training.

Of other injuries, Jones said: “Billy (Paynter) has had an operation and he’s out for the season, Trevor (Carson) isn’t going to ready. We are looking at Mags to see maybe if he is on the bench.

“But we wait on Rhys and a couple of other knocks. We get on with it.

Portsmouth have sold their allocation of Rink End tickets for the weekend. Pools took their biggest away following of the season to Blackpool last weekend and Jones again prised the travelling support.

He said: “Last week our support was superb. We took 1,700 and to do that is fantastic and they are great every week.

“That support, singing and noise was great – the first time I’ve really heard it here and it’s been the norm for me. Let’s hope we can see what all the time and it becomes a regular thing.

“It’s great for the players to hear it and see it and from start to finish and the backing was absolutely superb.’’

 

Leyton Orient, bottom of League Two, have appointed Omar Riza as their fifth manager of the season after Danny Webb resigned.