HARTLEPOOL United manager Paul Hartley is looking for a big reaction from his side for their first home game of the season but they will have to do it without forward Joe Grey who is set to spend the next few weeks on the sidelines.

Grey was missing for the first game of the season last weekend which ended in a 4-0 defeat away to Walsall.

This afternoon, AFC Wimbledon head to the Suit Direct Stadium after they began their League Two campaign with a 2-0 win over Gillingham.

On the fitness of the squad, Hartley told BBC Radio Tees Sport: "Joe (Grey) will miss out and Mika (Njdoli) will miss out.

"Mika hopefully is not to far. Hopefully he can be back next week. Joe we think is still a couple of weeks away with a calf issue.

"Mika has a hamstring problem but the scan was really positive so he'll be back on the pitch doing some light running."

While the absence of Grey and Ndjoli is a blow to Hartley, it does present others with an opportunity to perform as he continued: "Over a period of time, we need to use the squad but it's all about this Saturday.

"We need to react to that poor performance and I am sure that they will react better with the way they have went about their business this week."

The nature of the result last week against the Saddlers did cause some concern amongst the fan base with the manager taken by surprise. However, there is no need from Pools end to push the panic button with Hartley emphasising that his players know where they went wrong.

He added: "It's one game! If we are ten games into the season and we are still not performing well, then it becomes an issue but it's one game. We can quickly rectify that this Saturday and we put in a strong performance.

"As I say, I did not see that coming because of the way that we have worked in pre-season and I know pre-season can be false in terms of results but with just the way that we have worked with organisation, shape, the hard work, it was a real surprise for me.

"They are human beings and I am sure they will react. They know that they didn't perform to their levels that they can perform but we go again on Saturday."

Ahead of the visit of Johnnie Jackson's side to the north-east, Pools completed their 14th signing over the summer bringing Mo Sylla to the club on a one-year deal.

Sylla, 28, links up with Pools having recently left National League side Aldershot Town where he made 30 appearances last season.