Hartlepool is the pick for Bristol Rovers striker

Ellis Harrison (right) in action for Bristol Rovers against Pools earlier this season

The Bristol Rovers frontman has joined Pools on a month’s loan – despite firing the Pirates up to fourth in League Two with a late, late winner at Oxford United on Sunday.

Moore told SportMail his heart had sank a little after seeing his 21-year-old target on the scoresheet in the big promotion battle at the Kassam Stadium.

But the Pools boss said he was ecstatic when Rovers boss Darrell Clarke confirmed the deal would be going ahead.

Harrison will have a maximum six matches with Pools, starting tonight at Accrington Stanley and ending at Luton on Saturday, February 20.

“We’ve tried for a bit to get him,” admitted Moore. “But there were six or seven teams after him, so it was nice he chose us.

“I know his agent quite well but it was the player who made the decision not the agent.

“Obviously, when he scored the winner on Sunday, I wondered ‘is it going to be off?’.

“But top marks to Darrell for letting him come to us.

“Darrell wants him to get games.”

Harrison’s first will come this evening at the Crown Ground against another League Two promotion force.

Accrington are seventh and boast a talented side under a manager Moore has great admiration for, John Coleman.

But Moore will go there looking for a result and after selecting Nathan Thomas for an immediate debut against Wycombe on Saturday, he will do the same with Harrison.

The Wales U21 forward trained with the squad for the first time yesterday, with Moore saying the session had gone well at Victoria Park.

“With training pitches frozen, it was good to get on the Vic,” said Moore.

“Normally, our groundsman Dave Brown, would probably not like us on the pitch, but he was really helpful and we got a good session in.

“There’s always a buzz with the lads here, but the atmosphere was very good.

“Ellis trained with the lads and I think when a new player comes in that brings a buzz too. He is the right calibre of player and one who can help us get clear of this little mess we found ourself in.”

Pools (possible): Carson, Richards, S Harrison, Jackson, Carroll, Featherstone, Woods, Gray, E Harrison, Fenwick, Oates. Subs (from): Bartlett, Jones, Nearney, Walker, Oyenuga, Hawkins, Smith, Thomas, Bingham.