Hartlepool United closing in on extending Tom White's loan from Blackburn Rovers as Dave Challinor eyes further additions before deadline

It’s been a week since the 23-year-old midfielder’s initial 28 day loan at Pools expired but now the club eventually seem to have come to an agreement with Blackburn.

White has remained at Hartlepool over the past week, travelling to Torquay United and Altrincham and continuing to train despite being ineligible to play.

But with Pools set to host Eastleigh at Victoria Park this weekend, manager Dave Challinor is now expecting to have White available for selection for the rest of the season.

“Tom White, we hope should get done today,” Challinor said. “We’ve spoken with Blackburn who have been brilliant and helpful with us.

"He wants to stay and we want to have him – you can see because he’s travelled to all the games and kept training.”

With the player registration deadline on March 25 for the National League, Challinor is still looking to tie down at least a couple of more players within the next two weeks.

“It’s something we're actively going through in terms of what we need,” he told The Mail.

“A lot of it will be to cover positions. Ideally we want someone to cover the left side because Fergie [David Ferguson] is our only really out and out left-back and touch wood nothing happens with him because he’s been integral whether we’ve played with a three or a four.

"We have absolutely no need to change what’s happening but that’s one area where we are short. If you look at the top end of the pitch and get another goalscorer in then brilliant and that’s something we’re looking at.

“I think it’s important we get in someone who is more of a utility player and can cover different positions.

"Ryan Donaldson is out at the moment with his foot and hopefully he’ll be back next week but he’s the type of player that is a godsend at this time of the year. If he’s required, he can do a job in five or six positions which is something we don’t have a lot of at the moment.

“We’re praying for the best and expecting the worst if you like. Hopefully we won’t need the bodies but we have to cover for every eventuality.”

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