Hartlepool Faces Injury Setback with Merrick and Kouogun Out
Hartlepool United’s momentum has been checked by a harsh double injury blow, with goalkeeper Max Merrick ruled out for six weeks and defender Max Kouogun facing up to three months on the sidelines.
Manager Darren Clark confirmed the news after scans revealed Merrick has suffered a thigh tear, while Kouogun has sustained ankle ligament damage that may yet require surgery.
Merrick back at Chelsea for treatment
Merrick, on loan from Chelsea, lasted just over half an hour of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Woking before pulling up and being forced off.
“Max obviously went straight back down to Chelsea with it being his parent club and the medical facilities they have there,” Clark told BBC Radio Tees. “He’s had a scan.
“We spoke with their medical team - not good news, but probably what we expected. He’s got a thigh tear, so he’ll be out for six weeks.”
Chelsea’s resources now come into sharp focus for Hartlepool.
“You can imagine what a top elite European club has in terms of facilities and the attention that they can have in terms of the amount of medical staff that they have as well,” Clark said.
“He’ll get the very best of attention there and then when he gets close to that return, he’ll come back up with us. We’re keeping in touch with him every day, making sure that everything’s okay.”
With Merrick out, the door swings open for summer signing Nathan Fisher. The 21-year-old replaced Merrick against Woking and is now in line to start Friday night’s game against Kidderminster Harriers (19:45 BST).
That change would also push player/goalkeeping coach Adam Smith up to the role of second-choice keeper.
Kouogun facing up to three months out
If Merrick’s absence is a setback, the situation with Kouogun cuts even deeper.
The defender has been out since landing awkwardly in the defeat to Eastleigh in August, and the scan results have confirmed the club’s fears.
“Following on from that, we’ve had a scan on Max Kouogun with his ankle issue when he landed in the Eastleigh game, he’s got some kind of ligament damage, so Max will be out for a minimum of two months,” Clark explained.
The next step is crucial.
“We’re going to see a consultant to see whether it needs surgery, if that would be the case, that would take up to three months. So that’s a big blow for us because Max is a big player for us in every sense of the word.”
Hartlepool now face a delicate balancing act. Clark is set for talks with head of football operations Chris Maxwell, of club advisors Bromby & Partners, to assess whether they can bring in cover during Merrick’s absence.
With a young goalkeeper about to be tested under the Friday night lights and a key defender out for the long haul, Hartlepool’s squad depth is about to face a searching examination.
