AFTER expecting to have Cian Bolger in his Hartlepool United ranks tonight, Mick Wadsworth will instead be sending out his side to face the on-loan Bristol Rovers defender.

He played on trial for Pools at Horden last Tuesday and was expected to sign in time for the weekend game with Dagenham.

But that deal failed to happen and instead the teenage Leicester City centre-half has teamed up with former Darlington boss Dave Penney at the Memorial Stadium on loan for a month.

Penney, sacked by Oldham after a season in charge, took over last week, but his side were thumped 4-0 at Carlisle in his first game in charge at the weekend. The Pirates have not won in 11.

Pools will be again without skipper Sam Collins, he is expected back for the weekend’s trip to Peterborough United.

Right-back Neil Austin, captain in Collins’ absence, is a big doubt after taking a kick to the calf at the weekend, but will be given every chance to prove his fitness and start this evening.

On the opposite flank, Evan Horwood is hoping for more success on the road tonight.

Pools have lost three in a row, but the left-back said: “I don’t think we have been particularly bad.

“On Saturday it wasn’t a great game, but maybe a draw would have been a fair result. For Tuesday we need to get back to being solid like we have been away from home, that’s the aim and what we need to do.

“It’s been three losses and things change, it’s part of football. It may be a rubbish game there on Tuesday but it doesn’t matter if we come away with a good result.

“We’ve done well of late, but we want to aim for the play-offs and have a chance for that. It’s a big game for us this.

“They have struggled of late and have a new manager.

A lot of teams in the league are quite similar, we have to go into the game thinking we can win them.

“Sam’s been a big miss, we have seen that but we have a squad who can come in and do a good job.’’