Hartlepool United will today discover the extent of Adam Boyd's knee injury, when the striker goes under the knife.

The Pool striker hobbled off in Saturday's defeat to Yeovil after a clash with keeper Chris Weale and is facing a mininum of six weeks out.

And Pool boss Martin Scott has suffered a second injury blow, with defender Matty Robson suffering ankle damage in training and he too faces around six weeks on the sidelines.

"It's a massive blow for us,'' said Scott. "His knee was badly swollen and we thought it was just a kick - but we weren't happy with the reaction over the weekend.

"He had it looked at on Tuesday morning and had a scan. They weren't happy with the results. Now he will have it opened up, hopefully on Wednesday, to see the damage.

"Then we will know what's wrong. Hopefully there's no damage - then it's just a case of cleaning it out and four to six weeks out.

"If there is any ligament problem, it's going to be longer. So we are looking at six weeks to start off with - anything lower is a bonus, but it could be more.''

"Adam will come back fitter, mentally stronger and he will be a massive player for us this season."

Mark Tinkler didn't play for the reserves last night and is pressing for a place in the starting line-up at Blackpool on Saturday.

Hugh Robertson returns to training today after injury but the weekend's game is likely to come too soon for the hard-hitting Scot.

"Matty went over on an ankle in training,'' said Scott. "He's been in pain and there is ligament damage so he is looking at six to eight weeks out.''

l Darlington Reserves beat their Hartlepool United counterparts 2-1 at Bedford Terrace last night.

Nathan Jameson grabbed the winner for Neil Maddison's side in a hotly contested encounter.

Adrian Webster had given Quakers a sixth minute lead, before Stephen Turnbull levelled before half-time.

And, with full time approaching, Jameson showed a cool head to lift the ball over James Winter.

Hartlepool: Winter, Craddock, Brackstone, Philip Turnbull, Neil Wilkinson, Jones, Clarke, Stephen Turnbull, Jack Wilkinson, Appleby, Maidens. Subs: Davison, Manson, Robinson, Mullen, White.

Darlington: Norton, Pattinson, Kendrick, Dawson, McLeod, Appleby, Webster, Thomas, Wijnhard, Nudumbu-Nsumgu, Jameson. Subs: Ikangu, Parkin, Logan, Harrison, Hughes.

l Darlington defender Shelton Martis has admitted he would prefer to stay in the centre of defence rather than be moved to right-back.

After starting the season as a right-sided full-back, the Dutchman's solid display in the centre during last Friday's draw with Notts County has given Hodgson a tough choice. Martis said: "I do like the centre-more, I think I play better there. I prefer playing there in the centre but it does not matter too much to me where I play."