BELEAGUERED Hartlepool United will be without two first-choice defenders at the weekend.

Micky Barron is suspended for the vital trip to Rotherham after his red card in last weekend's pitiful defeat to Blackpool, and central defender Micky Nelson is also absent after picking up his fifth booking of the season on Saturday.

Nelson has been on four bookings since the win at Blackpool last September, but collected his fifth caution when he conceded a penalty in the second-half.

Chris Llewellyn will be serving the last game of his three-game ban following his dismissal against Tranmere a fortnight ago.

The defensive suspensions should mean a recall for Darren Williams and Martin Scott may opt to recall Darren Craddock from his loan spell at York.

Scott, who is away from Victoria Park on the UEFA Pro Licence course at Warwick University until Thursday, also has the option of moving Ben Clark from central midfield to the middle of defence.

Clark played the first two games of the season in defence, but has made the rest of his 18 appearances in midfield.

The club is investigating Saturday's events in the dressing room, when a heated altercation took place among players and management.

Scott last night revealed: "There was certainly lots of passion shown in the dressing room because at the moment players aren't happy, staff aren't happy and management aren't happy with the performance on Saturday and the situation the club is in.

"Players care and management care because we are concerned. What we have to do is address the problems, which we feel we did on Saturday after the game.

"We said a few home truths and now we have got to act on that. We've 16 games to go and we need points.

"What goes on in the dressing rooms stays in the dressing room, but we have a strong unit and are all working extremely hard to turn this situation around.''

Striker James Walker has returned to Charlton after four loan appearances. He wasn't involved last weekend.

Pool's game at Colchester, scheduled for February 18, has been postponed because of the Us' involvement in the fifth round of the FA Cup. No new date has yet been arranged.

l Luton have renewed their interest in Adam Boyd, with the Hatters bidding £500,000 for the Pool striker's signature.

Boyd made his first appearance since September at the weekend and, after seeing a £400,000 bid knocked back by Pool earlier this month, Hatters' boss Mike Newell has made a second, late and improved bid ahead of the transfer window closing at midnight tonight.

The bid is expected to be firmly rejected.

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