Hartlepool United boss Ronnie Moore says it might be time to bring in youthful energy

The Pools boss had been trying to bring in experienced and powerful figures to try to boost his squad.

But with Pools, thus far, drawing a blank in their search for nous, Moore explained it may be time top gamble on a gifted, if untested, player or two.

Pools are currently nine points off the top seven and eight off the bottom two following a 2-0 defeat at Wimbledon and Moore does not want a repeat of last season.

“We hope it’s not going to go that way,” he told SportMail. “But it has the same feel to it at the moment.

“But we need to do something. We need players in. There are a lot of kids available and not so many experienced players.

“Is this situation we are in at the moment ready for kids?

“We’ve gone with what we’ve got for long enough, if we can only get young players in then so be it.

“Let’s see if they can learn their trade while playing for us.

“Last season we got a good young player in Aaron Tshibola and he’s played Championship every week this season.

But attracting fresh talent could prove tricky, especially this week.

It is FA Cup weekend when clubs are, traditionally, reluctant to allow their players to be cup-tied by playing elsewhere.

Moore will keep trying to bring in experience but believes the “energy” a young prospect may bring will be just as good.

“There was too many disappointing players out there on Saturday, we have to do something about it.

“I’ve said we cant bring in kids, but we may have to.

“At least you might get energy from lads, who might come and have a go and try things.

“We have tried to make signings all week, we keep looking.”

Moore looks like being without centre-half Magnus Okuonghae who came off eight minutes before half-time at Wimbledon with an ankle problem.

The 29-year-old defender is currently on loan from Luton Town.

Even if he shakes off his injury, it is unlikely he will be given the green light to play for Pools against Cheltenham Town at the Vic on Saturday.

Pools though will have Scott Harrison available and he would slot in alongside Matthew Bates, who had a good game at the back at Kingsmeadow.

“We have to wait and see about Maggers,” said Moore. “He probably can’t play in the FA Cup for us.

“We’ll ask the question.”

But Moore says, whoever they try to sign, the player they bring in has to improve his squad – he won’t just sign players for the sake of increasing the numbers.

“People say ‘get A’, ‘get B’, but you can’t just sign people for the sake of it, you need better than what we have got.

“We will replace players, but it’s about getting the right ones in.”