Hartlepool United captain Ryan Donaldson not looking too far ahead despite early season promise ahead of FA Cup tie at Ilkeston Town

Pools have got their season off to a near-perfect start with 10 points in their opening four matches ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Ilkeston Town (3pm kick-off).

But with last Saturday’s match at Barnet being called off due to coronavirus concerns and the 2019-20 season being ended prematurely due to the virus, Donaldson feels it’s important that Pools just stay in the moment.

"If the last year has shown anything, it’s that you can’t look too far ahead and we’ve just got to try and go about our business,” he told The Mail.

“We just want to win as many games as we can. We’ve got a busy schedule with a lot of matches so it’s important we win as many of those as we can and keep ourselves in a good position in the league and see where it takes us.”

Donaldson is one of eight first-team regulars to have been at the club last season.

He knows exactly what manager Dave Challinor and his coaching staff demand from the players.

And with several of the summer signings still bedding into their new environment, the Pools skipper feels the best is yet to come from the side.

"They’re asking a lot of us and it’s been demanding at times but we’re just getting on the same wavelength so everyone knows what is needed from them and what the expectations are,” he added.

"I’m sure the new lads have found it tough at the start because the demands are high. We've all worked hard and I think we’re on the right track.

"We are never going to be the finished article straight away because we’ve only played a handful of games together but I think everyone can see that we’re heading in the right direction.

"The gaffer has brought in good players and good characters as well, everyone is competing to play on a Saturday and there’s a healthy competition in the squad.”

Manager Dave Challinor is expected to rotate his squad for this weekend’s FA Cup tie with players like Josh MacDonald, Tom Crawford and Henrich Ravas looking to get a run-out.

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