Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone previews the visit to face Solihull Moors at Damson Park in the Enterprise National League.
Ahead of the clash against the Moors, who currently sit one league position below Pools, Featherstone told local press:
“Both Clubs are going into the game thinking it’s probably a must-win at this stage. A draw doesn’t really help anyone.
“I’m expecting a tough game. Chris Millington is very experienced at this level.
“This will be a tough task, but a really interesting one for us if we want to push into the play-off places.
“The squad is growing and growing. Although I’ve got a few headaches and decisions to make, it’s a position I want to be in – the more options for me, the better.”
Following consecutive postponed matches for Pools against Sutton United and Wealdstone respectively, the manager assessed the extended break from games.
“It’s been quite frustrating because we put in a really good performance against York, and the lads are chomping at the bit to get back on the pitch and put things right.
“[But] it gave Calvin, Charlie, and even Gav and Tyrese the opportunity to understand what we want from them even more so. The lads are excited to get back on the pitch.”
Last week, Pools announced the loan signings of Calvin Okike from Hull City and Charlie Caton from Accrington Stanley, who scored on his debut against the Minstermen. On the duo settling at the Club, the Pools boss said:
“Above all they’re top people – they want to improve. It’s really important to get the character as well as the ability.
“He’s a top lad [Calvin]. He’s 18-years-old but he acts like he’s 28. He is very mature for his age.
“I’ve spoke to two people that I really trust in the game at Hull City who’ve seen him day-to-day. Both came up without any hesitation that he’s ready both physically and ability-wise.
“[Charlie] is a Hartlepool player in terms of how he plays – he’s aggressive, front-footed, makes runs, and he wants to score goals. I think the fans will relate to that.
“It was important for him to get off the mark like he did, he took the goal really well on his weaker foot. That’s what we’ve brought him in to do, to hopefully add more attacking threat.”
After Pharrell Brown returned to Hull City following the conclusion of his loan deal, the manager expressed that the winger will “go on to have a really good career”.
“He’ll look back on this loan further down the line in his career and he’ll see it as a definite positive”, Featherstone added.
“[It was] a good loan for his development. We did want to extend it [the loan]; he wanted to extend it, but a ruling with the FA stopped that.
“He’s got a good mindset that’ll take him a lot higher up the pyramid.”
