Hartlepool v Bradford preview

Team news for Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy clash between Hartlepool and Bradford at Victoria Park (kick-off 7pm).

Hartlepool will definitely be without Steve Howard and Antony Sweeney for the first round of the Football League Trophy. The former Derby striker required stitches to an eye wound after clashing with Torquay's Aaron Downes on Saturday while midfield stalwart Sweeney has been struggling with a calf injury and will not be included in Colin Cooper's plans. Striker Nialle Rodney will be hoping for his first start of the season after making four appearances from the bench while Andy Monkhouse is also pushing for a place in the starting XI. Pools boss Cooper will be hoping his misfiring strikeforce can use the game to kick-start their season after failing to score in all five of their opening League Two games. Bradford boss Phil Parkinson may call upon Mark Yeates for the trip north east. The Irish-born winger required injections on a recent knee injury but, despite that, made a seven-minute substitute appearance during the weekend's draw at Stevenage. Yeates aside, the Bantams boss has no fresh injury concerns but could freshen up his side with the likes of Ricky Ravenhill and Raffaele De Vita both pressing for recalls to the starting XI. The clash represents a repeat of last year's second round when Bradford needed penalties to see off Pools after a goalless draw at Victoria Park.