CRAIG HIGNETT admits Hartlepool United need some defensive reinforcements to help shore up their back four, but has warned it could prove impossible to recruit the right players next month with finances set to remain tight.

Pools return to League Two action at home to Cambridge United tomorrow, with Hignett calling for a positive response to last weekend’s FA Cup thrashing at Port Vale.

That response will require a much-improved defensive display, although the signs are hardly positive given that Morecambe are the only League Two side to have conceded more goals than Pools this season.

Hignett prioritised attacking reinforcements in the summer, and his transfer activity helped make Pools more of a goalscoring threat, but as he looks to improve his side’s all-round showing, the former Middlesbrough forward admits he is concerned by defensive deficiencies.

“We have tried to add goals, and we have done that,” said Hignett. “The goals for column is good. The goals against is something we need to look at.

“We need to keep making minor adjustments, but we are going to need a few transfer windows to get to where we want to be.”

In the past, Pools would have delved into the loan market to address their defensive issues, but a change to Football League regulations means they are now unable to operate outside the summer and winter transfer windows.

As a result, next month’s transfer period represents Hignett’s only opportunity to restructure his squad between now and the end of the season, but financial reality will severely limit his ability to make major changes.

Pools are operating close to their budgetary limit, and if Hignett wants to sign new defenders next month, he will have to move on some of the current squad.

“I know what we can and can’t do,” he said. “I have to work to make this club better in the window, and moving forward. At the moment, this club is like a project, we are a work in progress.

“We are probably at our limit at the moment. We will maybe have to wheel and deal a bit next month.

“We are not a club who have money to throw at it, but we are looking to add the right type of player to improve us. If we end up selling, we might be able to bring two or three in. If we don’t, we will have to be clever about what we do.”

Hignett’s immediate priority is to ensure there is no repeat of last weekend’s desultory showing at Vale Park, with Pools hosting a Cambridge side that are five places above them in the table after recovering from a shocking start to the season to win four of their last five league games.

Hignett was bitterly disappointed with his players’ efforts five days ago, but is hoping they draw a line under the defeat with a much-improved performance tomorrow.

The signs on the training ground have been positive, but as the Pools boss has alluded to on more than one occasion this season, that isn’t always an indication of what will happen on a match-day.

“It is a reaction I am looking for more than anything,” said Hignett. “And, to be fair, the reaction is always good from them. I have a good set of lads, but I want more from them.

“I want more from certain individuals. Anyone can look a million dollars in training because you know who you are playing against, and you know they won’t fly in. But I want people to train like they play, otherwise you won’t improve.

“How often can you keep saying the same things to the same players before things change? Only they can answer that. I want players to improve, but they have to help themselves by taking that on board.”

Defender Scott Harrison is available tomorrow after serving a one-game suspension last weekend, but Rob Jones has been ruled out with the injury that saw him stretchered off in the second half at Vale Park.