RONNIE MOORE yesterday made a 775-mile round trip to try and attract a new striker.

He watched Plymouth’s Marvin Morgan score twice, and go close to a hat-trick, in their reserve win over Newport at Home Park as the 31-year-old forward returned from a muscle injury.

Morgan has made a six starts and 13 substitute appearances for the Pilgrims this season and scored two goals.

One of those goals came against Pools as he netted the opener in a 2-0 defeat on the south coast in September.

That game came after he had spent the week in the North-East after his partner gave birth in Newcastle. The attraction of being closer to his family is a big pull for the striker and Moore hopes it will entice him to Pools.

The Pilgrims visit Victoria Park on Saturday, and although their manager John Sheridan has said the forward can leave, he will not let him face Pools if a deal goes through.

He said: “I haven’t stood in Marvin’s way. I have said he can go, and the decision is down to him.

“With Ryan (Brunt) coming in, I think Marvin understands the situation. I think it’s in Marvin’s best interests. He hasn’t had a lot of football and I have spoken to him about it.

“He’s a clever lad and a good pro. I think it’s just a case of him getting some football somewhere – but Marvin won’t play against us if he goes to Hartlepool. I have told them that.”

One striker Moore missed out on last week, Charlie Wyke, admits Colin West, the former Pools’ coach and ex-Sunderland centre forward was one of the reasons he opted to move to Carlisle.

Pools made their move to sign the Middlesbrough striker permanently, but the Cumbrians nabbed him and Wyke, who has had two loan stints at Victoria Park, admitted: “The day before I signed I came to see the manager and he sold the club to me.

“My first impressions are good. He’s very driven and wants to win every game.

“He told me his plans and his vision for this season and next year and it just felt like the right club to come to.

“Another big reason was Colin West, because he was a striker and he can make me a better player.

“Carlisle are a big club and the position they’re in didn't really faze me. I know we’ve got enough to get out of it and I’m up for the challenge.”

Of leaving Boro, he added: “I’ve been at Boro since I was seven so it was hard, and emotional, to leave, but I had to do it.