Dave Challinor welcomes this Hartlepool United selection headache ahead of Torquay clash
Unbeaten Pools host Torquay United at Victoria Park in a televised clash on Saturday teatime (KO 5.20pm) in the National League.
Pools have been in impressive form this campaign though dropped points in the 1-1 home draw with Altrincham on Tuesday evening.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdChallinor has praised the character of his squad and backed them to bounce back quickly and admits he has a number of welcome selection headaches.
On those players pushing for a start, Challinor said: “Parky [David Parkhouse] and Mason [Bloomfield] - it’s a management one with them. Mason hasn’t played a huge amount of football - his performance Saturday was brilliant.
“Parky will potentially miss games due to international duty so we’ve got to manage what we’ve got.
“Gav was one that was on the border and [on Tuesday] lacked a little bit of sharpness. He likes space in behind to run into but that was at a premium.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“We’ve got to look at where they are - we can’t afford to flog them and lose them because we’re a smallish squad.
“They’ve made it really difficult to leave out Josh Mac, Oatesy and Luke Williams. Lids [Gary Liddle] is obviously carrying a knock so he wasn’t able to play.
“They’re all knocking on the door and all asking questions of us as a management team, which is how you want it.”
Challinor added: “You’ve got to have the right characters where everybody is disappointed not to play but what you need to do is use that disappointment as motivation.
“Nobody is being left out for bad performances.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"In the main, we’ll go with putting out a team we think can win the game - we did that Tuesday and haven’t won the game.
“We’ll see how people react in the next couple of days.
"Ultimately, we’ll have another look at Torquay and see where we can potentially cause them problems and hopefully put on a performance in front of the TV cameras.”