Dave Challinor outlines National League points targets for Hartlepool United

With 10 games played, Pools currently sit 12th in the National League table on 15 points, two outside the play-off places.

But with some sides having as many as five games in hand on some of their opponents at what is still a relatively early stage in the season, the table is yet to settle down.

And Hartlepool’s run of games going into 2021 could see them play eight league matches over the next month, providing they all go ahead as planned.

When asked how long it will take for the league table to take shape, Challinor said: “About 40 games probably!

"But I think after Christmas you’ll have a good idea where you’re at. It’s a cliche but we need to be getting as many points as we can as soon as we can, the first target is always 50 and as soon as you get to that great.

"Then you start looking where you are in the table, we’ve got to be realistic and we’ll be looking at the season in monthly blocks in terms of the games we have.

"It’s obviously going to be really busy with all the games we have and the FA Trophy coming into play which we’ll want to do well in.

"We want to try and be up there and put runs together, we started the season five unbeaten now we need to start putting another run together over a busy schedule.”

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