New boy Thorne will be sharp and ready for Pools return
Hartlepool boss Craig Harrison says James Thorne will be “fresh and ready to go” for the National League trip to struggling Solihull Moors on Saturday.
The new signing, who joined Pools last week on a short-term contract, was named on the bench for Tuesday night’s win over Barrow, having started last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Woking.
Harrison says that they were mindful about overloading the former Man City and Nottingham Forest prospect with two games inside four days.
“We looked after James a little bit on Tuesday night, he’s not played an awful lot of football,” said Harrison.
“He played 70-odd minutes last Tuesday in the behindclosed-doors game we had with Bradford. James played 60-odd minutes at Woking on Saturday so we are just taking care of him.
“He will be fresh and ready to go again on Saturday.”
The 21-year-old was followed into Pools by another forward, Tomi Adeloye, who also signed a short-term deal.
The former Charlton, Millwall and Stoke City talent was not included in the match-day 16 in midweek with Harrison saying the 21-year-old will have to stake his claim on the training ground at the Racecourse in Durham.
“Tomi has an opportunity to fight for his place in the squad,” said the boss.
“We want people coming in to improve the squad, but noone comes straight in [to the team] without working hard – that goes for everyone.
Thorne looks set to come in for Ryan Donaldson, who hobbled off with an ankle problem against Barrow on Tuesday.