JOEL Porter could be ready for Hartlepool United's game with Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.

Porter damaged ankle ligaments in training and was forced to sit out the weekend draw at Colchester.

The Aussie feared he could be out for the rest of the season, but intensive treatment over the last 48 hours has eased his pain and he could now face the Owls.

He was replaced by Jon Daly at Layer Road and Pool also have Eifion Williams available. He will play in tomorrow's final reserve game of the season with Hull at Billingham Town.

Micky Nelson and Matty Robson also suffered ankle injuries over the weekend, but all three are hopeful of facing Paul Sturrock's side in the all-ticket game, which will go a long way to shaping Pool's season.

Pool are without Mark Tinkler because of an Achilles problem and hope the midfielder will be able to play some part this season.

Jack Ross is still some time away from fitness after ankle ligament damage and both Adam Boyd and Chris Westwood were unwell at the weekend.

"We had sore throats and headaches and were feeling a bit stiff," said Boyd. "It wasn't the greatest way to go into a match."

Pool boss Neale Cooper, meanwhile, admits he agonised over the decision to recall Dimi Konstantopoulos at the weekend.

Jim Provett's run of seven games was ended after the 2-2 draw with Peterborough.

Provett, last season's player of the year, was unhappy at the change and Cooper revealed: "It was a hard one for me and I know Jim is possibly not happy but I thought about it and the way Colchester play and I wanted to play Dimi.

"Sometimes I have to make these decisions and it is not great for players but I thought he would do well for us."

Top six rivals Brentford play one of their two games in hand tonight when they meet Tranmere at Griffin Park.

* David Hodgson will hand Matthew Bates his Darlington debut at Mansfield this weekend after the Middlesbrough defender finally linked up with his new team-mates yesterday.

Hodgson has promised to take every measure in ensuring Quakers get their faltering play-off bid back on track at Field Mill after their 3-1 defeat at Cambridge.

That will include Bates' long-awaited Quakers bow, three weeks after the 18-year-old moved to the Williamson Motors Stadium on-loan until the end of the season.

Bates has remained at the Riverside to recover from a back injury. After receiving the green light from Boro last week, the Stockton-born stopper trained with Quakers for the first time yesterday.

"Matthew is only a young lad, but he already has some tremendous qualities," said Hodgson. "He's quick, good in the air and can tackle a bus.

"We've had to be patient, but I'm delighted that Middlesbrough have allowed us to take him on-loan for the rest of the season.

"It's a good challenge for Matthew, at such a young age, to test himself at this level.

"We're already planning for next season and Matthew is one player we would like to take, possibly on a season-long loan. He'll go straight into the side at Mansfield."

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