MATTY DOLAN, the Middlesbrough under-21 captain, is lined up for a loan spell at Hartlepool United.

The midfielder is training with his hometown club, with Pools boss John Hughes looking to make a couple of additions to his squad next month.

He signed a four-year deal at Boro in 2010, but has yet to make a breakthrough into Tony Mowbray’s squad.

Hughes is keen to tap into the North-East’s three other professional clubs and already has Charlie Wyke on loan from the Riverside.

“What I want to do here is get guys in who want to be at the club,’’ said Hughes.

“Matty Dolan, Hartlepool boy, wants to be here. I want guys with North-East passion who want to be here.

“When I say to the young boys coming in, I’ll give them a chance they will get it.

“Then you are their gaffer and they will run through a brick wall for you. Not just inhouse, but boys elsewhere like Matty at Boro.

“There’s a wee association and pride in the region and I want to tap into it.’’ Boro chief Mowbray is open to a deal for Dolan and is well aware of Hughes and his methods from their time as managerial rivals in Scotland.

“We had a call from John at Hartlepool, I think they’re going to have a look at him to start with,’’ he said.

“Yogi’s just through the door at Hartlepool, so he hasn’t seen enough of our young players.

“If any of our young players can help Hartlepool and help themselves to get some league football it will benefit both parties.

“I think John, without committing to a loan signing, he’s going to have a look at him for a week or so and see if he can help them moving forward.

That will help Matty as well if he plays some football.”

Hughes, who is hopeful Peter Hartley, Evan Horwood, Simon Walton and Nathan Luscombe will all be fit for tomorrow’s home game with Portsmouth, explained: “Since I’ve came in I looked at what’s about in the North- East to see what’s available and what’s happening. I know Tony and his staff from my time in Scotland and I’ve looked at Newcastle and Sunderland as well.

“Matty is a supporter of this club as well, I watched him play Chelsea the other week after I was tipped off. I would like to bring him in, he fits the bill and everything appeals to me.

“We have been fortunate to have a look at him in training and I’ve said that at this moment in time we are on the brink of the salary capping level. To do something we will shuffle the pack a little and if we can, Matty is one we would like to bring in.’’ Hughes is still seeking his first win since his arrival at Pools last month from Livingston.

He is hopeful that the next two games against fellow strugglers Pompey and Carlisle will give him a chance of breaking his duck.

“We consider the Christmas period and what we have to come, we need that win and we can get momentum and confidence from it,’’ he said.

“When we get it, we can see what needs to be done and can take us on.

“I’ve never had any problems with the boys, they’ve been receptive to my ideas and as a coach I’m maybe asking them to transform too fast.

“I need to come up with a system to win games and hopefully it will be exciting and nice on the eye.”