WITH two new signings in the bag on transfer deadline day, Ronnie Moore is happy with his business.

And the Hartlepool United manager admits his first January capture is one he has high hopes for.

Luke James and Josh Laurent moved this week, from Peterborough on loan and Brentford on a permanent basis respectively.

But early in the month he landed Nathan Thomas from Mansfield. The left-winger impressed on his debut against Wycombe, setting up the winner for Scott Fenwick.

After being left out of the starting line-up for the next three games, Thomas appeared as a substitute against Exeter last Saturday and was Pools’ brightest performer by some distance.

“Last weekend we lost and it’s a chance missed. We started well, Exeter got into it, then one-way traffic for 40 minutes and they break away and score so people forget what’s gone on,’’ mused Moore.

“We need to win games, be it winning well or winning awful. If we had someone like Luke last week we could have won as Nathan Thomas was unplayable.

“He has ability, he is bright and quick and creates chances. He needs to be our saviour, playing at that pace players can’t handle him.

"I don't want to pin too much pressure on one boy, but everyone has seen what he is capable of.

"I'm sure if he produces that week-in, week-out there will be enough balls coming in to satisfy any striker.

“Billy Paynter is back, Luke here and we have some attacking strength we haven’t had up there.’’

Pools had rejections in the transfer market last month, as both clubs and players knocked back their advances.

But it didn’t deter Moore, who admitted: “I’m happy with what we did, we needed strengthening and we feel we have done that.

“The two lads will help us on the right path, where we need to be.

“Luke coming back is good for us all. Considering where he could have gone, there was clubs better off than us after him, and he wanted to come back here which was pleasing.

“He will give us something different, some determination and hard-work which can only improve us.

“Josh is a young kid, learning his trade. He has a good engine on him and likes to go box to box. The opportunity came to get him in and does he start straight away or let him get to know us and develop him?

“But when he became available we felt it was a move we felt was right for the club.’’

He added: “We always look for more, we would like our own players, to make permanent signings. We aren’t kidding anyone, we had bids in, bids rejected, bids accepted and then players turn us down.

“We have looked at non-league, three different players, and had offers knocked back then accepted then players want to leave it to the summer because of their agents getting involved.

“We are trying, we are looking at improving and helping the players we have.

“The loan window opens next week, we can only play five so we look at where we need strengthening in certain areas.’’

Pools were without Matthew Bates last weekend with a knee injury. A week earlier he was Pools’ best player in the draw at Cambridge and he was missed against Exter.

The former Middlesbrough skipper trained with the squad yesterday and Moore admitted he will start tomorrow if he comes through training problem free.

"Batesy should be all right - we'll leave that one until the last minute, but we're hopeful,’’ he admitted.

"If Batesy is fit he plays. Him and Adam Jackson have done really well when they've played together.

"No disrespect to Scotty (Harrison), but that was the pairing who had been playing.

"When he's been fit, Batesy has been as good as anyone.

"Carl Magnay is fit and raring to go. Michael Duckworth’s had a scan that everything's fine but he's still feeling something. What that is we don't know.

"He's trained with the physio and done rehab work but he's not trained with the group yet."

Pools have reduced ticket prices for next week’s two home games with Stevenage and Yeovi.

Prices will now be £12 for adults and £6 for concessions.

“We know that three home games in a week is a big outlay for pay-on-the-day supporters,” explained chief executive Russ Green. “Our fans have stuck with us through some testing times and we want to make sure we reward them for that loyalty and help them out during busy periods like this. Hopefully it means that as many fans as possible can come and support the lads in two crucial fixtures.’’