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Hartlepool full-back Michael Duckworth has been ruled out for four weeks following a double hernia operation.

The 21-year-old , external in August and prior to Saturday's defeat by Rochdale, had started every game since arriving.

But he failed a pre-match fitness test, and scans then revealed his injury.

"Having changed from weekly training to full-time, this injury is probably his body telling him professional football is hard," said manager Colin Cooper.