By Albatross
July 12 2004

Jack Ross will not be joining his new team-mates as Hartlepool United head to the Netherlands - he's suffered a slight knee injury. With our only definate signing of the summer missing, what will our games in Holland tell us? Talk about jinxing things! No sooner do I type that Poolies in Holland will get a first look at Jack Ross, than it's announced that the former Clyde player has jarred his knee and won't be on the trip after all....

Although it's not currently seen as a major problem, Ross won't travel - Physio John Murray feels he'll be better off not making the trip. It does though rob Cooper of his one definate new signing - a player that Coops was no doubt hoping would blend into the squad during the trip. He's apparently also being joined on the sidelines by Ryan McCann, who according to the Hartlepool Mail has gone over on his ankle.

Mickey Barron and Chris Westwood both make the trip, but the absence of any other names is becoming a cause for concern. While a move for Mansfield defender Rhys Day is being talked about left, right and centre, another central defender is not seen by most as a priority - it's the right hand side and up front where names are needed. Cooper apparently does have people in mind, but it will now be next week before anyone joins up with the squad unless they happen to be in Holland anyway!

Therefore the waiting game will go on. A fully-fit Pools squad would certainly compete in Division 2, but with a high standard set last season we need a little more strength in depth if we're to challenge - three senior forwards is cutting it fine, and we need cover in other areas too. Cooper though seems determined not to rush things, leaving us all a little frustrated as we see teams around us signing up players.

With Ross out of action, the games against TOP Oss on Wednesday and FC Eindhoven on Friday will probably teach us little. Oss proved to be modest opposition last year, going down 6-0 to Pools - and FC Eindhoven finished below them in the Dutch 2nd division (or as Brian Mawhinney might say "The Championship") last season. This will more than likely be a case of building team spirit, gaining fitness and maybe some modest experimentation on the part of Pools.