Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor confident of getting a reaction from his players following 5-0 defeat to Torquay United

It was Pools’ first defeat of the new season and one that left Challinor with plenty to think about going into a new week on the training ground.

The side were set to travel to Barnet on Tuesday evening but that match was called off due to coronavirus concerns, leaving Hartlepool with a free week going into Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie at Salford City.

The Pools squad return to East Durham College on Monday morning for their first training session since Saturday’s defeat.

"I’m confident we’ll get a reaction," Challinor said.

“They’re an honest group and once we knew the Barnet game would be called off, this week was going to be a work week for us.

"We’ve got two Saturday to Saturday weeks coming up before it’s five weeks on the spin with Saturday, Tuesday, which is a big ask.

“Saturday’s result hurts but we’ve got a full week and a full week the week after.”

Pools currently have Gary Liddle out with a groin injury and the side’s other first-choice defender Timi Odusina will have his hamstring injury picked up against Torquay assessed this week.

The 21-year-old could be facing a spell on the sidelines as Pools look at potential short term cover ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup match at the Peninsula Stadium.

"We will look to use this week to bring the necessary bodies in and work with what we’ve got to improve," Challinor added. “That will absolutely be the case and I expect to see a massively improved performance and a team that is hurting for when our next game is.

"This next week will be very important for us. The early part of the week will be general stuff then we’ll start looking at things going into Saturday and the same will go for the following week.

"We’re a work in progress, Monday morning couldn’t come quick enough for me because the players will be hurting and it’s not a nice weekend so I can’t wait to get back in.”

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