Plymouth Argyle vs Hartlepool United FC - Pilgrims must progress without injured fivesome

Posted Thursday, May 05, 2016 by PA

Plymouth manager Derek Adams will be without at least five players for the last Sky Bet League Two game of the season against Hartlepool.

Striker Reuben Reid will be unavailable due to a thigh injury and defender Carl McHugh remains on the sidelines after the recurrence of a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw at Cambridge last Saturday.

Peter Hartley is fully fit again and expected to be in the starting XI after being substituted last weekend with a tight hamstring.

Adams did not divulge the names of the other players who will be unavailable against Pools but is hopeful they will be all back in contention for their play-off game against Portsmouth on May 12.

Visiting boss Craig Hignett is likely to be without full-back Jake Carroll for the trip to Home Park.

Carroll sat out last weekend's 2-0 home defeat by Portsmouth with a calf injury and is not expected to recover in time to feature.

Fellow defender Matthew Bates is also a doubt after limping off with an ankle problem shortly after half-time against Pompey.

However, striker Billy Paynter, who made his first appearance since April 5 in that game, suffered no ill-effects from his 68 minutes and is available once again.