United look to sign Sunderland striker
Hartlepool United were today hoping to complete the loan signing of Roy O'Donovan from Sunderland in time for the Irish striker to face Carlisle United.
O'Donovan has been training with Pools since last week and was expected to seal a one-month loan deal in time for tonight's crunch game.
Director of sport Chris Turner initially brought the 24-year-old to Pools' Maiden Castle training ground to simply cast an eye over the former Cork City striker, whose contract at the Stadium of Light expires at the end of the season.
But after watching strikers Adam Boyd and Denis Behan toil in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town, Turner has acted quickly to boost his attacking options.
O'Donovan's loan is initially expected to be for a month although Pools will be able to extend it if they wish with the former Republic of Ireland B international surplus to requirements at Sunderland.
He has made just four Premier League starts for the Black Cats since being signed by former Sunderland manager Roy Keane in the summer of 2007 and has been farmed out on loan to Dundee United, Blackpool and earlier this season Southend United.
O'Donovan, who played alongside Pools duo Behan and Joe Gamble during his days at Cork, will be keen to get his career back on track and impress at Pools with Sunderland expected to release him in the summer.
If O'Donovan completes his move, he is expected to line up alongside Boyd in attack for tonight's game and that will not be the only change to the starting XI.
Andy Monkhouse starts the first game of a two-match suspension with Colin Larkin expected to take the 29-year-old's place on the left flank.
Jon-Andre Fredriksen and Leon McSweeney are also vying for Monkhouse's slot although the latter has indicated to Turner that he wants to be considered as a right-back, where he has been playing for the reserves.
Like Monkhouse, Ben Clark is banned as he begins the first of a three first-team game suspension after being sent off for the reserves against Middlesbrough earlier this month.
Turner said: "Colin Larkin has played on the left side when Andy Monkhouse has been on the right and he has got pace and trickery.
"Jon-Andre Fredriksen can play there as well so it will be one of those two who replaces Monkhouse."
Carlisle boss Greg Abbott is also expected to make changes to his starting line-up after seeing his side struggle in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Swindon Town.
Former Pools loanee Darryl Duffy should come back into the side after the on-loan Bristol Rovers striker was sacrificed in a 4-5-1 formation at the weekend.
Duffy is expected to replace veteran midfielder Graham Kavanagh with Abbott reverting to a 4-4-2.
Hartlepool-born left-back Evan Horwood is set to return to the team at the expense of Peter Murphy while Carlisle face late decisions on Scott Dobie (foot) and Richard Offiong (leg).
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
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