‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ for Hartlepool United's fringe players with former Halifax Town winger Josh MacDonald still waiting to make league debut

Summer signing Josh MacDonald is yet to play a minute for Pools in the National League so far this season and has only made the matchday squad twice despite two solid FA Cup displays at Ilkeston Town and Salford City.

Meanwhile, young forward Joe Grey hasn’t featured since starting the 5-0 home defeat to Torquay United last month.

When discussing the pair’s omissions from the squad and what they need to do to get into the side, Challinor told The Mail: “They can keep doing what they’ve been doing in training.

“Joe is slightly different because there are no expectations on him because of his age and the potential he has.

"He’s done nothing wrong and when we’re having problems with scoring, it potentially gives him an opportunity.

“We’ve got to keep doing the same things day in, day out because we’ll pick a team based on what we see throughout the week that we think can go and win a specific game on a specific day.

"Quite rightly, players like Josh and Joe should be looking at things with light at the end of the tunnel for them due to our problems at the top end of the pitch.

"We’re not scoring enough goals and that’s got to change. Lads who have been in playing know they’re under pressure from our fringe players who will be looking to take an opportunity over the next month.”

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