RONNIE MOORE will not rush striker Scott Fenwick back to action for Hartlepool United’s pivotal relegation encounter with York City tomorrow, but has demanded the same again from Marlon Harewood.

Fenwick has recovered from an ankle problem he sustained in February and scored during a 90 minutes run-out for the reserves in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Doncaster.

Despite the impressive comeback and an unlikely appearance from loan signing Jordan Hugill, Moore is keen to avoid thrusting Fenwick straight back in to the first team picture at the height of the battle to beat the drop in fear of a recurrence.

“You want to throw Scott in as quickly as you can because he got five goals in seven before his injury,” said Moore. “But when you pick up a knock, you’re out as long as he has been and you throw him in, we’d all be gutted if he picked up a knock and is out for the season.

“You have to handle it carefully and Buster (physio Ian Gallagher) will be the one that makes the decision on that one.

“When Scott got injured it was soul destroying for him and us because then you have to go and find a goalscorer - and everyone is looking to do that.

“We have been lucky in the players that have come in, in terms of work ethic, not all of them, but the vast majority who have come in on loan have put a shift in and done well.”

Hugill is scheduled to see a specialist at some stage today to determine whether he will be fit enough to face York. It was feared the Middlesbrough-born forward suffered a detached retina during last Saturday’s defeat to Southend United.

But Harewood performed solidly when he was used from the bench and has been challenged by Moore to display his qualities again if he is given the chance to shine again at Bootham Crescent tomorrow, where there will be 2,000 travelling fans.

The Hartlepool boss said: “It was the best performance he has come up with in a while and he knows it was long overdue. He has been involved with the side and players look up to Maz because of where he has been and what he has done.

“But you still have to go out and do it. Since I have been here, that is the best he has done. If he had been doing that week in, week out, then he certainly wouldn’t be sat on the bench. That leadership and strength is important and he has good feet for a big guy.

“He needs to do that again if Jordan Hugill doesn’t make it and it is down to him whether he stays in or not between now and the end of the season.”

Hartlepool head for York a point clear of the relegation zone and a victory could bring the Minstermen, who are five ahead of the men from Victoria Park, right back in to the mix.

Moore was nominated for the League Two manager of the month for March for guiding Hartlepool to four wins from five matches, although the defeat to Burton at the start of the month proved costly.

He said: “It is always nice to be nominated. People say you don’t want to win that but that is nonsense.

“I want to win it and there is nothing better - not just for me but for the staff and the players.

“I said if we were going to be safe then at some point I’d have to get manager of the month somewhere down the line. Any recognition as a manager is nice and if anybody says they don’t want it, then they are lying.”

Wycombe’s Gareth Ainsworth pipped Moore to the gong, while Shrewsbury’s Bobby Grant was handed the player of the month award ahead of Hartlepool defender Scott Harrison.