Lee Clark confident Jay Benn will be available for Hartlepool United's trip to Aldershot Town

The energetic right-back was forced off 49 minutes into last week's 2-0 win over Barrow on the opening day of the new National League campaign but Clark revealed he's confident the 24-year-old will be fit enough to take part in Hampshire.

Having signed from Lincoln City in the summer of 2025, the defender enjoyed a generally positive first season at Victoria Park, making 41 appearances.

While there were times when Benn was found wanting defensively, his determination, hard work and threatening forward runs helped endear him to fans and ensured he was a regular in the Pools side at either full-back or in a more advanced wing-back role.