Senior men must step up to plate - Woods

Michael Woods says it is time for him and Hartlepool United’s other ‘old’ stagers to “step up to the plate”.

While hardly a veteran at the age of 26, the midfielder admits it’s vital those few players with experience make it count.

Woods was in tremendous form in the 1-1 draw with Plymouth on Saturday, following on from a fine second-half display at Luton.

The ex-Chelsea midfield prospect took the game to the Pilgrims with Lewis Alessandra and Nicky Featherstone, both 28, also impressing in the centre of the park.

“It’s our responsibility now,” said Woods.

“It’s our role, we’ve lost a few senior members, Billy [Paynter] and Trevor [Carson] are out and they are two big senior pros we are missing.

“It’s about time we stepped up to the plate.

“Saturday was positive against a very good side – Plymouth will go up, they are as strong a League Two side as you will see.

“If we take that level of performance into the games we have coming up then we’ll be all right.

“I’m only 26 but I’m a senior pro in this group, I’m getting called an old man!

“I look at the young lads at the back and it’s scary!

“Feathers and Lewie are experienced players and Podge (Padraig Amond) is our senior pro further up!

“We have a young squad, you just had to look at the benches on Saturday, Plymouth were bringing on players with hundreds of appearances in the Football League under their belt.

“That’s what we’re dealing with at the minute but we can’t use it as an excuse.

“It’s an opportunity for the young players to try to grasp and I thought the lads stood up to be counted.”

Woodswasencouraged by the temperament displayed by the young players - the average age of the back five is only 21.

“They were brilliant,” he said. “They are not coming into the team in a comfortable situation, there is a lot of pressure.”