Deputy Halstead ready to step up
Mark Halstead is poised to make his first league start for Blackpool when Millwall visit Bloomfield Road in the npower Championship.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper, whose previous two starts for the Seasiders came in the League Cup, was called into action last weekend when number one Matt Gilks received a straight red card for deliberate handball outside the box in the 2-1 defeat to Barnsley.
Nottingham Forest loanee Matt Derbyshire came off the bench and struck the crossbar in an impressive cameo against the Tykes and could push for a start in attack.
Defenders Ian Evatt (knee) and Bob Harris (toe) remain on the sidelines.
Caretaker manager Steve Thompson takes charge of Pool for the sixth consecutive match as their search for Michael Appleton's successor continues.
Benik Afobe will be added to the Millwall squad.
The England Under-21 striker has agreed a loan move from Arsenal until the end of the season and will compete with Andy Keogh, Rob Hulse, Dany N'Guessan and John Marquis for places in attack.
Winger Scott Malone could be added to the squad after recovering from a back injury, but on-loan Derby forward Nathan Tyson is still out with ankle ligament damage.
Midfielder Tamika Mkandawire is back in training after a knee injury but will not figure yet.
Skipper Paul Robinson is in Philadelphia as he recovers from an operation in a bid to resolve the groin problems which have kept him out virtually all season.
Source: PA
