Hartlepool boss says players will have to go out on loan

Pools have brought in Ellis Harrison on a month’s loan from Bristol Rovers to follow the permanent transfer of Mansfield winger Nathan Thomas.

Moore has tried to sign a midfielder, believed to be Portsmouth’s Nigel Atangana, only for the 26-year-old to sign for fellow League Two side Leyton Orient.

The Pools boss is hoping to add another forward, although he admits it may not be in time for tomorrow’s trip to Cambridge.

“Possibly, but it’s more likely to be next week,” said Moore. “It shows how ambitious the club are and what we want to do.

“If the players here have not done it then we can shift them on. We can’t wait for anyone, they have all had their opportunities.

“Not one can knock on my door and have a go and say ‘you haven’t given me this, that or the other’.”

With Billy Paynter, Michael Duckworth, Carl Magnay and Harry Worley progressing towards returns, Moore says the squad may be too heavy.

“When everyone’s fit we could have 22 players and that will give me, and them, food for thought,” said Moore.

The Pools chief explained he had looking for an Aaron Tshibola-type player to boost the midfield.

Tshibola spent half a season on loan at Pools last year from Reading, helping Moore’s great escape act.

“We missed out on a centre-midfielder who went somewhere else, which was disappointing for us,” said Moore. “He’s a big, strong lad.

“He would have brought some physicality in there, something I think we haven’t really got.

“He would have been a Tish type figure, the players we have in there at the moment are a very similar.

“We have five or six midfielders but they are all of the same type of mould.”