Bates: No favourites ... earn your place
Matthew Bates is yet to decide on his ideal Hartlepool United XI as his players prepare for their final National League audition.
Middlesbrough send their under-23 side to Victoria Park on Saturday with Pools looking to round their so far impressive pre-season campaign off with another win.
Pools have won their last two games without conceding a goal and came within a minute of another clean sheet a notable scalp in the shape of Sunderland the game previous.
Performances have pleased Bates, who himself is navigating his way through his maiden summer in the dugout.
But he revealed so many players have made a case for a starting spot on August 4, when Pools travel to Maidstone United for the National League opener, that he is yet to truly decide on his first-choice
team. “We’ve had a conversation with the lads and told them that the team isn’t picked for the first game of the season,” said Bates. “It’s all going to come down to who is working hardest in training and playing well in the games.
“There are 11 shirts up for grabs for the start of the season and it’s up to the players to work hard to get them.
“We have a good game to come against Middlesbrough and then we are into the final week before the first match.
“I’ve told the players that every shirt is up for grabs, I have no loyalty to any one I’ve signed or to players who were here before.
“That is how it has to be – you work hard, you play well and you stay in the team.”