Dave Challinor hails Rhys Oates' impact at Hartlepool United with wins over Stockport County, Halifax Town and Notts County

The 26-year-old forward scored his first two goals of the season and created another over three games as Pools beat Stockport County, Halifax Town and Notts County in the space of six days.

Oates was named Man of the Match in each game as Hartlepool climbed to second in the National League table.

After starting just two of Pools’ first nine games of the campaign, Oates has now being named in the starting line-up in each of the last five league matches as the side picked up 12 out of a possible 15 points.

And manager Dave Challinor is delighted that the forward has started to ‘back himself’ in front of goal.

"We’ve seen that Oatesy has the ability to cause teams trouble and score goals,” Challinor said.

"The one criticism of him is that he probably doesn’t score enough goals at times because he doesn’t back himself enough.

“I was critical of him a little bit after the game against Boreham Wood when we had a free-kick from 14-yards out inside the penalty area.

"I went in the dressing room and asked who strikes the ball best from that distance and everyone including Oatesy said it was him so I asked why he was stood over the far post not over the free-kick?

"At Fylde, if we had a free-kick within 30-yards of goal, there was no way any player was getting the ball of Danny Rowe, not a prayer.

"As a goalscorer, if you’re going to be a goalscorer, you’ve got to be confident and know that if you get the ball you can do it.

"Rhys has the ability to strike the ball really well with both feet so to see him do that and get among the goals has been great and hopefully he can continue to build from it.

"You need to have a bit of selfishness about you as a striker and back your ability and Oatesy has started to back himself more and got the rewards for that.”

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