Portsmouth v Hartlepool United: Michael Woods back in contention for Pools

The midfielder has missed the last three Pools matches because of a dead leg but came through a reserve-team appearance in midweek with no ill-effects.

Woods played the entire 90 minutes in the 4-0 victory over Scunthorpe at Bedford Terrace and was training today on the same Billingham Town pitch.

Moore said he would be happy to restore the former Chelsea player to the squad at Fratton Park but would be governed by the thoughts of head physio, Ian Gallagher.

“Woodsy did well,” said Moore. “He came through it all right.

“We told to him get himself fit so he was not going to get fit by sitting in midfield.

“It meant he made some silly runs to get himself moving and you have to do that if you want to get match-fit.

“If you sit in at reserve-team level, you are never going to get fit, so he had to get about and make long runs, short runs.

“But he came through it well and we’re pleased with him.

“There is a chance he could be involved on Saturday but I will take what Buster [Gallagher] says more than anything on that front.

“What my eyes have seen is that if I need to bring him on or needs to start, he looked OK.”

Pools will be without Kal Naismith who is not allowed to play against his parent club, but other than long-term injury victim, Billy Paynter, Moore has a full sqaud tro cloose from.