Hartlepool hope to have Laim Donnelly available for crunch clash

Posted Thursday, May 04, 2017 by PA

Hartlepool have defender Liam Donnelly back for their make-or-break survival scrap against promoted Doncaster.

Pools go into the season-ending fixture second bottom of League Two, two points off Newport, but are boosted by the Northern Ireland Under-21 international's return from suspension.

Matthew Bates, who heads an interim coaching team, is also hopeful of attacker Nathan Thomas taking part despite a knee problem.

Kenton Richardson has missed three games with an injured ankle and is not expected to feature.

Doncaster boss Darren Ferguson is expected to choose from an unchanged squad as his side bid to clinch the title.

Rovers must win their last game and hope other results go their way to be crowned champions and Ferguson has no new injury or suspension concerns.

Andy Williams and fellow striker Liam Mandeville (thigh) both stepped off the bench in last week's home defeat to Exeter and could return to the starting line-up.

Mathieu Baudry is still out as he is recovering from Achilles surgery so Joe Wright should continue in defence.