Hartlepool boss delighted to get new signing

The 21-year-old, who joined Pools for an undisclosed fee from Mansfield Town, will come straight into the squad for Saturday’s crucial League Two clash with Wycombe Wanderers at Victoria Park.

However, Moore admits he might find it hand to leave out any of the players who pushed Derby County all the way in the FA Cup on Saturday when the Rams only squeezed through thanks to a late Darren Bent winner.

“I’m pleased to get Nathan because we’ve needed a bit of quality in the wide areas,” said Moore.

“It was disappointing that we lost Kal Naismith but now Nathan is here and he has quality.

“He’s a genuine left-footed player who will bring a bit of sparkle to the team and he’s one of those who can excite the supporters when he picks the ball up and runs.

“He’s direct and he goes at people, and I think we’ve needed someone like that to get everybody going and light the blue touch paper, especially at home where I can see him causing a lot of problems for teams who come here.”

Moore said he was happy with how his team performed against Derby, adding the Middlesbrough-born new boy will have to be patient.

“He’s going to add to the squad and make us better,” Moore told the club’s website.

“But if I had played in that game on Saturday and then got left out I’d be knocking on the manager’s door!”

Moore added that he hopes Thomas will not be his only capture in the transfer window.

But the 62-year-old hinted that it has not been a smooth journey on the hunt for a striker.

“We’re still looking for someone to get on the end of Nathan’s deliveries now – a prolific goalscorer but where do you find one of them?” he said.

“We’ve been everywhere and asked everywhere.

“We’ve put two bids in for different types of players which at the present time have been rejected so it’s about regrouping now and deciding what our next move is.”

SportMail reported on Monday that Moore was reluctant to pay over-the-odds for a player.

“It’s a question of how far we want to go with it?” he said. “Everyone’s got a valuation.

“I think people see we’ve had a couple of TV games and the £10,000 player becomes whatever, which is nonsense really.

“We’re not going to dive in that way.”