HARTLEPOOL United could be without Colin Nish until the New Year and Colin Larkin faces an unknown time on the sidelines.

The two strikers both need knee surgery.

Nish suffered a twisted knee in training last Friday to rule him out of the FA Cup loss to Stevenage. He suffered a cartilage tear and needs to go under the knife to repair the problem.

Larkin's problem stems from a reserve game in September and, with the extent of the problem still to be determined, surgery will indicate how bad the problem is.

Skipper Sam Collins (calf) and striker James Brown (groin) are receiving treatment in the hope of being available for the weekend's trip to Scunthorpe.

Brown and Collins were due to start last weekend, before Mick Wadsworth lost three players in the space of an hour on the training ground.

"It came as such a shock,'' he said. "We've been working hard to get a diagnosis on them and see the right people.

"We had a horrible injury problem earlier in the season and it coincided with a fantastic run.

"There's no reason why that can't be the case again.''