Hartlepool United's goalkeeping situation explained as ex-Newcastle United youngster departs
Hartlepool United are boosted by the return of Max Merrick this weekend.
Hartlepool United head coach Pete Wild was faced with a goalkeeping crisis on Monday morning.
First choice on-loan Chelsea star Max Merrick wasn’t going to face AFC Fylde away on Tuesday as his parent club had put restrictions on how many minutes he could play in a week after his return from injury and Wild was prioritising the Hornchurch home game last Saturday and this weekend’s trip to Boreham Wood.
That would usually have meant ex-Newcastle United goalkeeper Max Thompson be handed the gloves but he has left the club in search of a No1 spot, he had only initially signed a month-long deal. Young summer signing Nathan Fisher was suffering from illness which meant Wild had to turn to player-coach Adam Smith for the trip to the North West. Pools’ recent winning league run came to an end with the 3-1 defeat.
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On Saturday afternoon, Pools head to title-challengers Boreham Wood, who are already a stunning 10 points clear at the top of the National League, boosted by the return of Merrick in goal. So with Thompson departing, will another goalkeeper be coming in?
Wild, speaking at his pre-match press conference at Maiden Castle, told the Mail: “No. We haven't got any wiggle room. We knew that Max Merrick was going to not be able to do three games in the week. It was about trying to pick the games he did.
“We did speak to Max Thompson about extending. He has aspirations of being a number one. We couldn't offer him that. We can all agree with that. So he decided he wanted to move on. Timing wasn't great in his decision-making to do that but these things are here to try you. Nathan Fisher was ill, been ill all week. Adam Smith goes from fourth choice to first choice in a matter of hours. These things, as a manager, are not ideal but they are what they are. I thought he did alright, he had hardly anything to do and that's testament to how well we defended on Tuesday night.”
Pools head to Boreham Wood hoping to get back to winning ways in the league after their two-game run was brought to an end at AFC Fylde on Tuesday, however, unbeaten Boreham Wood stand in the way.
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