Pools start well, despite injuries

Unbeaten Hartlepool United ... it's not a phrase often associated with the sixth week of a new League One season, but it's true thanks to the way Mick Wadsworth's squad has coped not only with the first half-dozen games, but also with a cruel injury list.

They’ve already been without skipper Sam Collins, midfielders Antony Sweeney, Gary Liddle, Nobby Solano and Nathan Luscombe as well as striker Colin Nish. Yet they have coped well thanks to the way Wadsworth has carefully built a squad capable of coping with the situation.

Last weekend’s Victoria Park win over Exeter saw many of them fit and back in the team, and it showed as Pools wept to a victory which was more impressive than the scoreline suggests.

But as Wadsworth has pointed out, the trick now is to keep this progress going, starting with Saturday’s visit to Carlisle.

It’s never an easy game, and Carlisle are bruised after last weekend’s home hammering at the hands of leaders MK Dons and their midweek exit from the Johnstone's paints Trophy, which they won last year.

But it’s not just the strength of Wadsworth’s squad that has earned Pools sixth place in the early League table – the return to form of former golden boy Adam Boyd has helped.

His an ever-present so far after a poor season in 2010-11, and his three goals promised a good return over the whole season if he can keep it up.

“Adam has done very well - renaissance man,'' Wadsworth told the Northern Echo. "He's got three goals, his ball retention is so much better than a year ago. We keep saying it every week, it's good for him and good for us.

“It would have been easy to cast him aside last year. Adam had to revisit his own approach to everything and the rewards are fantastic. He is looking like the Adam Boyd of a few years ago.

"He's got to grips with what needs to be done for the rest of his career, and I applaud him for that.

"All our staff have given him the kick up the backside he needed and he looks better and stronger and we're getting a return from him now.”

But both Boyd and Wadsworth won’t care who scores if Pools manage to pick up their third League On win on the trot at Brunton Park on Saturday.

Beaten in their last three games, Carlisle expect former Poolie Matty Robson and Lubo Michalik back from injury, but they suffered a bad night on Tuesday when they were knocked out of the JP Cup - and had Peter Murphy and James Berrett sent off.