Hartlepool United Q&A: January transfer targets, EFL rumours, Jamie Sterry and Tyler Magloire latest and fans returning to Victoria Park

Our Pools writer Dominic Scurr has been answering your questions about the club...

Why don’t Pools have a game this weekend?

It’s FA Trophy weekend. With Pools being knocked out by Halifax Town last month, they’re left without a match.

Challinor’s side were one of seven fifth tier outfits to be knocked out at the first attempt this season.

Dover, Eastleigh, Barnet, Maidenhead United, Yeovil Town and Wrexham were the other sides left with a free weekend.

As a result, Wrexham reorganised their home match against Dover and Maidenhead brought forward their game against Yeovil at York Road.

Pools hoped to bring their match against Eastleigh forward to this weekend but that request was denied.

Hartlepool were also offered to play a friendly but decided to turn it down as it would have required an overnight stay. They’re having the weekend off instead.

Will fans be allowed back to Victoria Park this season?

If you’d asked me this question three months ago, I would have expected some fans to be back in Victoria Park by now.

Unfortunately that’s not the case and the current situation surrounding coronavirus is still volatile and unpredictable.

With Pools having their best National League season to date, you’d hope to see some fans back supporting the side before the end of the season but it’s difficult to picture that at the moment.

The main focus is around getting the season finished in a safe and orderly fashion.

Pools’ top transfer target?

With the side playing well and in good form, Pools’ main focus is to tie players down and keep their squad together.

That’s not to rule out any further additions, but the main target for Challinor this month will be to secure Jamie Sterry until the end of the season.

The former Newcastle United defender has been faultless since his arrival. While he wants to get back to playing in the Football League, he’s open to staying at Victoria Park.

Sterry is on a dual-registration deal with South Shields, meaning he’s under no obligation to stay at Pools and would be free to leave should another club come in for him.

He’s back home in the north east, playing every week for a side hoping to push for promotion.

As it stands, no deal has been agreed but discussions are taking place. Watch this space.

Will Tyler Magloire return?

The suggestion is that Magloire is likely to stay at Blackburn Rovers or go out on loan to an EFL side, but that’s not to rule out Pools entirely.

Any potential return to Victoria Park for the 22-year-old centre-back will be dependent on Blackburn being satisfied with their defensive situation.

Rovers have just signed Jarrad Branthwaite on loan from Everton until the end of the season, which could pave the way for Magloire to leave on loan.

It’s all ifs and buts at the moment. The defender is understood to have enjoyed his time in the north east and would be happy to return.

It’s not quite a dead deal just yet, but it’s out of Pools’ hands.

Any other incomings?

If Pools aren’t able to sort something out with Magloire, they’ll need some defensive reinforcements.

Gary Liddle is still a few weeks away from starting a match in the National League and even then, Pools only have three natural central defenders in their squad.

With the side currently reaping the rewards of playing three centre-backs, that is an area Pools will be looking to ensure they have options in.

They’re currently looking at a flexible defensive midfielder capable of playing centre-back who has been playing in Sweden. A decision will be made on him in the coming weeks as he remains on trial.

Is there anything in the rumours about Gavan Holohan attracting EFL interest?

When you’re playing well and second in the National League, Football League clubs are going to be interested in your players.

And no player has scored more goals for Hartlepool since the start of last season than Holohan (14).

Naturally, EFL clubs looking for a goalscoring midfielder may turn to the National League in an attempt to find a deal. But Holohan signed a two-year deal last March which is likely to price out many clubs.

No formal offers have been made regarding any contracted Pools player so far this month, but things can always change quickly.

What is happening with Josh MacDonald?

The winger simply can’t get a look in at the moment. He’s been limited to just three cup appearances and hasn’t played a minute of National League football since joining in the summer.

Challinor expressed his concerns regarding MacDonald’s fitness after he lasted just over 55-minutes in his previous appearance for the club in the FA Trophy.

The Hartlepool coaching staff are big on fitness and performance data and it would appear that the 25-year-old is still short of meeting the levels required of him to get into the side.

Yet when he’s actually got on the pitch, his performances have been steady. He missed out on Wednesday’s friendly at Sunderland due to an injury.

MacDonald has barely played over the past few seasons so is in desperate need of minutes. Going out on loan looks the most likely option for him this month.

Will Joe Bunney stay?

As it stands, Bunney remains with the Pools squad and travelled down to Halifax Town on Tuesday night before being ominously absent from the side in the friendly win over Sunderland under-23s.

From the start, it has been clear that Bunney’s time at Pools has largely been to help him work on his fitness as he looks to make a return to the EFL.

He hasn’t pulled up any trees so far in blue and white and based on Challinor’s comments, it looks as though his long-term future lies away from Victoria Park.

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