James Brown is expected to miss Hartlepool`s trip to Brighton.

Forward Brown suffered an ankle injury in last weekend`s 1-0 win against Tranmere but it is a knock sustained in training which is likely to rule him out at the Withdean Stadium.

Director of sport Chris Turner hopes he will be available for next weekend`s FA Cup clash at home to Kettering.

Ben Clark made his comeback from hernia and groin problems in the reserves` 4-2 defeat at home to Rotherham on Wednesday and he could make the bench, as could Colin Larkin who has recovered from a groin injury.

However, assistant manager Colin West admitted fringe players such as Leon McSweeney and Jon-Andre Fredriksen did little to enhance their first-team claims in the second-string defeat.

He said: "There was an opportunity for some of the lads but they didn`t really knock a door down."