NEALE Cooper yesterday suffered more bad news yesterday - with two of his players needing surgery.

Jack Ross and Hugh Robertson will both go under the knife in a bid to cure respective knee and foot injuries.

And that means Cooper has had four players needing surgery with the season only six weeks old.

Micky Barron (hernia) and Darrell Clarke (knee) have yet to kick a ball this season after operations and now Ross will be out for a month, with Robertson sidelined for two weeks.

Left-back Robertson, a cult figure at Victoria Park after winning over the fans with his deadly free-kick ability, needs surgery to remove a piece of bone in his ankle which has been causing discomfort this season.

Ross, who has operated on the opposite defensive flank this season, missed Pool's pre-season tour of Holland with a knee problem and the injury has flared up again. He needs a cartilage operation to cure the troubles.

Regular right back Barron should back in action by the time Ross is fit again and that would allow the former Clyde skipper to revert to his preferred advanced role, with Clarke still two months away from fitness.

There was one bright spot of injury news for Cooper after Mark Tinkler recovered from Achilles trouble and suffered no reaction during his return at the weekend.

Tinkler could start Saturday's home game with Torquay in defence after Cooper was critical of his side's defending at Oldham, where they conceded three goals for the second away game in succession.

Cooper, who last week signed Alan Pouton from Gillingham and Martin Woods from Leeds on loan, wants to add competition in defence.

He had a budget meeting at Victoria Park yesterday and will be keen to add to his under-strength squad.

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