A NEW front-man is still on Craig Harrison’s shopping list for Hartlepool United, even if he has reassured those he already has at his disposal that he has faith in them continuing their good form.

Pools’ first season in the National League has suddenly started to look rosier after winning four of their last five unbeaten matches to climb up the table.

It means they head into tomorrow's visit of Eastleigh sitting a place above them, which highlights the turnaround in recent weeks because their opponents had opened the campaign with just one defeat from five.

Harrison is delighted with the progress so far, particularly in the final third where there has been significant improvements – with Jonathan Franks’ five goal haul giving everyone a lift at Victoria Park.

The Hartlepool boss has also been impressed with his other players in attack, even though he has still scoured the market and watched matches – including Middlesbrough Under-23s' game at Accrington in midweek – for an extra option up front.

Harrison said: “We are still looking. What we don’t want to do though is undermine the lads who are already here as well. I am not looking because the lads aren’t good enough, the lads here already are doing very well and scoring goals.

“We are working with two young lads in Devante Rodney and Connor Simpson, Rhys Oates is a bit older, and we have attacking players like Ryan Donaldson and Jonathan Franks. Their contributions have been fantastic.

“I don’t want to dilute their contribution because they have been excellent. I don’t want to detract from their performances. I would like to bring one more in who would suit my work ethic, they are hard to come by but we will still be searching.”

Eastleigh will arrive in the North-East unsure of the team Harrison is to field. Harrison has plenty of doubts over players’ fitness levels. Simpson has returned to training after shaking off a knee injury, but it is not clear if he will play.

Further back defender Keith Watson looks certain to be absent after requiring a CT scan on the knee injury he sustained during the win at Leyton orient last weekend. On top of those this game will come too soon for Scott Harrison, Blair Adams, Luke George and Jake Cassidy.

Harrison is desperate for whatever team he sends out to keep up the recent good work, which has put them within five points of leaders Aldershot and Dover – even if Hartlepool still sit down in 15th.

“The table emphasises the manic start to the conference,” said Harrison. “Where teams have beaten each other, teams have been heavily beaten who you wouldn’t have expected. There are teams where you wouldn’t expect them to be over an 11 game span.

“We should have more points on the board, we haven’t but we have been on a good run and that now turns starts from ground zero. We need to get the points again to keep this going.”

While Hartlepool have enjoyed a recent surge of good form, Eastleigh have seen a dip even though they are proving a hard team to beat. They have only lost twice all season but have failed to win any of their last six, which has included five draws.

Harrison said: “Eastleigh have got a lot of high profile players, historically they have been there or thereabouts for the last few years in the play-offs. They might not have started as well as they’d have liked but it will be a very tough game.

“We know we can extend their recent run without a game, there’s a real buzz around the place now. We have had a breather without a midweek game, but more importantly the players have been able to recover because they have had a lot of travelling recently. This has been more a regeneration week and we look to go again.”