Nathan Sheron reveals what Hartlepool United have found ahead of new National League season & Barrow opener
Hartlepool United will face Barrow at Victoria Park in the first game of the new National League season.
Nathan Sheron believes Hartlepool United’s impressive pre-season campaign has helped create a winning mentality ahead of the new National League season.
After kick-starting their preparations for Lee Clark’s first season in charge with a win at Northern League newcomers Seaton Carew, Pools have also claimed wins against Hebburn Town, Redcar Athletic and Spennymoor Town before suffering their only defeat of the summer against League Two side Grimsby Town last weekend. However, Clark’s side got back to winning ways when a late strike from summer signing Corey McKeown helped Pools secure a last-gasp victory against Fleetwood Town on Saturday afternoon.
A full week of training got underway on Monday as Clark and his coaching staff work their way towards Saturday’s home game with a Barrow side that are looking to bounce back from relegation at the first attempt. The Victoria Park clash will provide an immediate test of the new look squad that has been put in place over an exciting summer for Pools - and Sheron believes results on the pitch over the last month can help fuel a successful campaign.
Speaking to the club website after Saturday’s win, he said: “It’s nice to get 90 minutes, get back playing games and we are looking forward to the league starting next week and giving it a good go this year. The gaffer has told us it’s good to get that winning mentality in and I think we have won five out of six games. It’s what we want to be doing during the season, we want to be winning games. I know myself from last year, I think we drew too many games, so if we can keep winning games, and we scored last minute today, it gets a good mentality through the lads.”
‘A few headaches’
The midfielder also praised the impact made by new head coach Clark since he was appointed as permanent successor to Nicky Featherstone earlier this summer. The former Newcastle United and Sunderland midfielder has overseen a positive preparation to his first season in charge after his side claimed wins in all but one of their pre-season friendly fixtures and a whole host of new signings were integrated into the club since the end of last season.
The mood is overwhelmingly positive ahead of next weekend’s season opener against Barrow - although Sheron has admitted the performances of several players across the Pools squad has given his manager ‘a few headaches’ as he looks to name his starting eleven ahead of the meeting with the Bluebirds. “He’s (Clark) been great, he’s been really good,” he explained. “Training has definitely gone up a notch, training has been really good. The games are coming thick and fast and we are looking forward to next week. We have a really competitive squad at the minute and we will see what happens come the first game of the season because I am sure the gaffer has got a few headaches at the minute.”
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