Hartlepool United boss Ronnie Moore wants goals and will watch transfer targets

Ronnie Moore is hoping to bring goals to Hartlepool United when the transfer window opens.
Kal Naismith goes forward for Hartlepool United v Plymouth. Picture by TOM COLLINSKal Naismith goes forward for Hartlepool United v Plymouth. Picture by TOM COLLINS
Kal Naismith goes forward for Hartlepool United v Plymouth. Picture by TOM COLLINS

As SportMail reported last week, Moore plans to use the postponement of the Bank Holiday Monday match at Carlisle for him and his coaching staff to go and watch their transfer targets.

 With Pools the lowest scorers in League Two and with Billy Paynter out with Achillles trouble, finding a poacher for January is vital.

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“We’re hoping to bring two or three in during January and hopefully that will put us in a better position than we are now,” said Moore. “We need a player to stick the ball in the back of the net, but that’s an easy position to fill, isn’t it?

“We have to hope and pray we can find that.

“We have three games pencilled in for Monday, non-league matches – a few players have been recommended to us.

“It gives us the chance to go and watch them in person before we make a decision on what we’re going to do in January.”

Moore admits his desire for a striker is not necessarily motivated by any profigacy from his current strike-force – more a need to have a ruthless figure up front.

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“Having no game on Monday gives me and the coaching staff the chance to go and see games we would not have been able to see,” esaid the Pools chief.

“To be fair, we’re not creating millions of chances.

“It’s not as if Bings or Scotty are missing loads, we’re not creating enough, but when we do make one we need to be more lethal in the right area.

“We are a bit short in that department so we need to bring someone in until the confidence comes back to the strikers we’ve got.

“But it’s not just up front, we are looking at one or two other areas we can strengthen in January.”

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Moore, whose side meet Notts County in their final match of 2015 at Victoria Park on Saturday is talking here of permanent additions to his squad.

However, it does not mean that the 62-year-old will not be utilising the loan market.

Pools have four loan players at the Vic, with three of the quartet first-choice picks.

Moore will certainly want to keep Middlesbrough’s Adam Jackson, Crystal Palace midfielder Jake Gray and Kal Naismith, the POrtsmouth winger, beyond January 3.

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It would not be unfair to say Sunderland striker Mikael Mandron has not caught fire so far, but that could change if the Frenchman find the net against Notts County or at Newport on January 2.

Moore was giving little away but admitted there were loan players he wanted to keep hold of.

“We’re in the process of trying to do that now but we are governed by what their clubs want to do with them, whether they want to bring them back or stay out,” he added.