Pools boss Keith Curle has stressed there will be a number of changes at the Suit Direct Stadium, with both ins and outs expected, next month as he looks to steer his side away from trouble in the League Two table.So here, at The Mail, we consider a number of potential Suit Direct Stadium exits and arrivals in the January transfer window.
5. OUT - Mikael Ndjoli
Striker Ndjoli has not featured since coming off the bench in the 2-0 defeat to Salford City back in October with his most recent start coming in the 6-0 Papa Johns Trophy defeat against Everton under-21s. The 24-year-old struggled with injury initially following his summer move before, ultimately, falling out of favour under Curle. “Players that are not playing, there’s a reason why,” Curle recently told The Mail when asked about Ndjoli with the former Kilmarnock man perhaps one who will be moved on next month. (Credit: Tom West | MI News) Photo: Tom West
6. OUT - Joe Grey
It would be a move which would likely split opinions among the Hartlepool supporters were it to happen but could a loan move away be on the cards for Grey? The teenager enjoyed a decent pre-season under previous boss Hartley before injury ruled him out of the start of the campaign. Since then, the striker has failed to work his way into Curle’s thinking. Grey has made 12 appearances this season, only one as a starter in the Papa Johns Trophy tie at Morecambe where he got little over an hour. Despite making over 60 appearances for Pools, in all competitions, less than a third of those have come as a starter with the 19-year-old entering the stage where game time will be important. (Credit: Scott Llewellyn | MI News) Photo: Scott Llewellyn
7. IN - Alex Cairns
Cairns came in on a seven day emergency loan for Hartlepool’s FA Cup second round tie against Harrogate Town after injuries to Ben Killip and Kyle Letheren. The Fleetwood Town stopper produced a solid display in that 3-1 win and earned the plaudits of Curle during his brief spell with the club. Curle admits he is looking to improve all over the pitch and a move to bring back Cairns could be on the table to offer competition to Killip in the second half of the season. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News) Photo: Mark Fletcher
8. IN - Mark Beck
Curle has recently cast an eye over Darlington twice in December, both of which fixtures included a player he knows well in Beck. Beck spent time with Curle at Brunton Park with Carlisle United and the 28-year-old has scored 12 league goals for the Quakers this season. But could he have been who Curle was watching? (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) Photo: George Wood