By Albatross
February 23 2004

Hartlepool United face something of an injury crisis up front - meaning we could be left with just one pro striker fit for our next game. Meanwhile, the press are speculating about a move for Jim Provett to Sheffield United. The speculation surrounding Jim Provett has been reported in a number of papers, but while it's impossible to dismiss them out of hand, the figures most often mentioned make it sound unlikely. Sheffield United would apparently be paying 100K, and given that Jim is under contract for another two years that would be a ridiculously low figure. Warnock may be interested, but it will take a much higher figure to persuade Pools to sell - especially as at the moment we are hardly in dire need of the money. More fuel has been added to the fire though in the form of a rumour that Manchester United's North-East born young Goalkeeper James Jowsey may join Pools for a loan spell. However, in most eyes this seems to be a case of the press putting two and two together and making 97.....

Of more immediate concern to Cooper in terms of signings will be the injury news following the Blackpool game. Robinson had to be replaced early on with a suspected hamstring pull, and if that's confirmed he could be out of action for several weeks; Eifion's substitution was apparently following an injury to his knee; and Westwood and Barron also picked up slight knocks. While the latter two will hopefully prove minor, the probable loss of Robinson for a period of weeks will be a big blow that will be compounded further if Williams is also missing for a game or two. Our resources up front are looking stretched, and potentially we could be travelling to Wycombe with just Joel Porter as a senior striker.

For what it's worth, I don't think that will happen. Should Eifion not be fit (it looks certain Robinson won't be) then I would expect Cooper to look to bring in at least one loan signing - or failing that, to recall Adam Boyd from Boston. Boyd is nearing the end of his final month's loan anyway, and has been playing regularly there - a scenario somewhat similar to the one that saw Marcus Richardson recalled from Lincoln earlier in the season.

Part of the problem for Cooper is that ideally what he needs is someone who's in form; and of course anyone in form is unlikely to be prised away from their club without some financial encouragement. Some are talking about Lee Trundle - but Swansea would probably want more than Pools could afford for the prolific Scouser; indeed, Brian Flynn was quoted as saying a few weeks ago that "letting Lee go is not something we're contemplating." That probably means the sort of fee that most Poolies would want to see us getting for Provett - ie 500K+. The premium on goalscorers at every level is growing - witness the million pound plus deal from Blackburn for Huddersfield's Jon Stead - and you have to say that under those circumstances Pools best chance of signing a proven goalscorer will be to try and get someone in at the end of the season.

In the short term, Cooper may have to look at loan signings - but again, that means someone out of form, out of favour, or simply not currently in the first team picture at their current club. While some such moves have proved to be successes in the past, it has to be kept in mind that reserve form is not necessarily a guide to potential first team success - Jermaine Easter anyone? Meanwhile, even players apparently available "on the cheap" due to club circumstances or simply out of contract, are asking for sky-high wages. It's been reported that we wanted Steve Howard back, and due to Luton's administration could have got him for a not too big fee - but with his wage demands reported to be in the region of 4K a week, an 18 month deal would use up all the money we gained during our FA Cup run just on his wages - a heck of a gamble to make on one player who could easily pick up an injury, suffer a loss of form etc. Jamie Cureton - another name mentioned after his unhappy spell in Korea left him looking for a club - is probably on something similar at his new club QPR.

However, Friday's performance simply indicated how much Pools need someone who will make the most of our chances. We ended up with a strikeforce of Porter and Shuker - and while Shuker should have done much better with his penalty, that was just one of a number of good chances that Pools could or should have put away. The Post-Match statistics on Pools World revealed that we had 25 shots on goal, and the majority of them were on target - compared to just two out of five for Blackpool. Had Shuker hit the back of the net we would almost certainly have gone on to win - similarly if Eifion's effort hadn't been chalked off for offside - but we created more than enough opportunities to secure a comfortable victory, showing that our approach play is on the button if nothing else!

Could this be the time for Jack Wilkinson to get back into the first team picture? Or for one of our other youngsters to force his way into the reckoning - Andrew Appleby maybe, who is continuing to impress at Whitby. It's a possibility - and especially if Eifion is out for a spell, then one of them should find himself at least on the bench - but if Cooper does decide to once again give youth it's chance, Pools fans need to be wary of loading them with too many expectations. Wilkinson may have scored a couple, including an absolute peach against Swindon - but to expect him to come in and do the sort of job we'd have hoped Gabbiadini would be doing at this point in the season is unrealistic.

What Cooper ends up doing could be a big signal to his expectations for Pools this season. While we may not officially be safe from relegation (the gap is currently 14 points, a strangely familiar figure after last season), no-one is seriously talking about Pools being in danger of the drop; if Pools settle for mid-table, then it's an ideal opportunity to bring in some more of the young lads and give them the opportunity to gain some first team experience. A big money signing would indicate we're going for it, and a loan signing... well, it would depend on who. As things stand, we're still hanging in there in 10th place, and although we are closer to the mid-table battle ground with the likes of Bournemouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere and Colchester, we're still also just five points off the final playoff place - with a game in hand on several of the teams above us that could see us reduce that gap still further.