MATTHEW BATES is likely to again be absent for Hartlepool United this weekend, but boss Craig Hignett is hoping his other injured players will return.

Centre-half Bates was injured almost three weeks ago in the home draw with Newport as he suffered a late ankle injury and has missed the last two games.

He’s also likely to sit out Saturday’s game with Mansfield at the Northern Gas and Power Stadium.

Boss Craig Hignett said: "It's probably too soon for Batesy, but as for the other lads they shouldn't be too far away.

"We'll assess them today and see where we are."

Michael Woods and Jake Carroll both sat out last weekend’s win at Yeovil with knocks, while Rob Jones was forced off at half-time with injury. Billy Paytner has not started the last two games as he has been suffering with a tight calf. 

The four should be in contention on Saturday and Hignett said this morning at his press conference: "A lad elbowed him in the hip when Rob went up for a challenge last week.

"If the game had carried on he'd probably have been all right but because he stopped at half-time it seized up.

"He wanted to give it a go, but I didn't want to risk it, he could hardly lift his leg.

"I was thinking of changing anyway and bringing Lewie (Alessandra) on, getting more creative people on and going for it.

"In the end it worked out as I thought it would.

"We'll see today, we'll have a look at him, hopefully he will be. He's had a couple of daft injuries which have frustrated him.’’

Mansfield boss Adam Murray is down to 15 fit players for the game and he said: “We have 15 really good players and you only need 11 don’t you? We will put out 11 players on Saturday that we feel can rock and roll

“It’s one of those things isn’t it?. We are going to focus on ourselves. We are going to Hartlepool and we want to win.''