The low-down on Hartlepool United's potential loan signing Luke Armstrong from Salford City

Pools have struggled for goals despite creating numerous chances in their opening 11 games of the National League season.

Midfielder Gavan Holohan leads the way with three league goals so far with strikers Mason Bloomfield and David Parkhouse scoring just one goal each prior to Tuesday night’s match against King’s Lynn Town.

Rhys Oates, Joe Grey and Ryan Donaldson are yet to find the net in the fifth tier since the start of the season while other attacking players such as Claudio Ofosu and Luke Molyneux have scored one apiece.

Dave Challinor’s side don’t want to become a team where they’re relying on one player to score goals for them every week but they’ve been crying out for someone who can maintain a significant goal threat up front.

And with Pools winning just one of their last eight games, five of which they have failed to score in, Armstrong’s expected arrival at Victoria Park could prove to be a timely one.

Goalscoring pedigree

A quick glance at Armstrong’s goal record in the EFL may not inspire too much confidence ahead of his arrival at Pools. Three goals in 16 League One matches on loan at Accrington Stanley was followed by one goal in 21 matches at Salford City last season in League Two.

But in non-league football, Armstrong boasts a fairly prolific record.

His spell at Gateshead during the first half of the 2018-19 season saw him score 10 goals in 16 starts before being recalled by Middlesbrough in January.

Prior to that, Armstrong helped Blyth Spartans to promotion to the National League North after netting 23 league goals during the 2016-17 Northern Premier League season.

Armstrong recapturing his form shown at the likes of Gateshead and Blyth will be key for Pools as they hope to have finally secured a goalscorer that will help shoot them up the National League table.

Playing style

Armstrong is known for his hard-working industrious approach up front with his ability to play out wide or through the middle making him a versatile attacking option.

At Gateshead, Armstrong saw the majority of his success in the National League playing as a striker in a 3-5-2 formation.

His movement, work-rate and ability to put chances away made him an instant hit at the International Stadium.

Challinor tends to prefer playing with a lone striker as part of a front three with the side rotating between Oates, Bloomfield and Parkhouse so far this season with little success.

But the Pools boss has hinted some serious changes could be in order as the side look to get back to winning ways after a difficult run of results.

Playing Armstrong off a focal point such as Bloomfield could help transform Pools in attack should Challinor opt for a change in formation.

And with no striker yet to really stake claim to a starting position in the side, Armstrong has the opportunity to walk in and become Pools’ first choice striker almost instantaneously should he be able to hit the ground running.

Injury issues

In what seems to be a familiar trend for Pools’ players this season, Armstrong arrives at Victoria Park with a slightly frustrating injury record.

The 24-year-old was reduced to just 12 league starts for Salford last season and hasn’t started in League Two since the opening weekend of the current campaign.

Despite success at Gateshead in the National League during the 2018-19 season, Armstrong missed nine of the Heed’s opening 16 league matches with a hamstring injury.

As a result, the striker hasn’t managed to start over 10 consecutive league matches in senior football since his prolific spell at Blyth Spartans as a 20-year-old.

Despite not playing a lot of football in 2020, Armstrong has an opportunity to get straight into the starting line-up at Pools and get a solid run of games under his belt between now and the end of the season.

Point to prove

This loan move is as important for the player as it is for Pools.

Challinor’s side need a goalscorer to get their season back on track and Armstrong needs a run of games and goals to rediscover the form he showed during his previous spell in the National League.

A successful loan at Victoria Park could open up plenty of possibilities for Armstrong as he still has a point to prove in the EFL having endured a difficult spell at Salford so far.

New Ammies manager Richie Wellens called out Armstrong following his final appearance prior to joining Pools.

Wellens said following a 2-1 defeat at Carlisle United: “Luke Armstrong has been chomping at the bit [to play].

"I thought he was really disappointing in the first 15-minutes after he came on. No energy, no enthusiasm but then second half he gave it a go and enabled us to get up the pitch and bring players into play.”

Two years ago, Armstrong was one of the hottest strikers in the National League – so much so, his parent club Middlesbrough deemed him too good for the level and recalled him in favour of an EFL loan move to Accrington Stanley.

But since then, Armstrong’s career has stalled somewhat with seven goals in his last 49 matches in all competitions – although only 28 of those have been starts.

A return to the fifth tier could prove to be just the move the County Durham native needs to get things back on track.

Any loan move has risks involved but this one looks to be an ideal fit for everyone with all parties desperate to make it a success.

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