RONNIE Moore is confident Ryan Bird’s arrival at Hartlepool United can compensate for the loss of Scott Fenwick.

Bird has signed on loan at Victoria Park, moving from Cambridge United a week after Moore thought he had his man only for the Us to put the deal on hold.

But their capture of Matt Harrold meant Bird could fly the nest, adding to Moore’s strikeforce after Fenwick was ruled out for a month with an ankle injury.

Pools have long been aware of Bird, 27, and trailed him during his time at Burnham in the Evo-Stik South League, when he netted 45 goals in as many games in the 2012/13 season.

That record earned him a move to the professional ranks with Portsmouth. After an impressive loan spell at Cambridge last season, he signed for them permanently in September this year and has four goals from seven starts in League Two.

“It’s good to get him in, we nearly had him last week. He’s a good lad, a proven goalscorer – albeit at non-league level, but Scott Fenwick was the same,’’ said Moore.

“If you are a goalscorer, then you are a goalscorer. He gives us one or two more options, a big lad, is a workaholic and gets about the pitch, I think he will be a great addition for us.

“We have to create chances for him and I have no doubt that if and when we do he will get on the end of them.’’

The Pools boss added: "About six or seven weeks ago we'd asked about Ryan and it wasn't happening.

"It is nice when they come back to me to say they were looking to bring someone in and were we still interested.

"He has walked in there, he isn't shy and has come in and is a talker.

"He is a bit like Andy Monkhouse, he has that sort of humour and he will be good in the dressing room.

"We are getting one or two good lads in the dressing room now and we don't need to have the music on from half past one to five to three.

"They can actually talk to each other, which is wonderful experience when I walk in and listen to players actually communicating with each other.’’

Bird has been in and out of Richard Money’s team this season and started last weekend’s 6-2 thumping by Portsmouth.

"He hasn't had a consistent run in the side but when he plays a run he scores, he has bags of goals at non-league level,’’ added Moore. "People may say that is non-league but if you score, you score.

"I'm hoping at 27, when I have seen him, he leads the line well.

"Scotty Fenwick and him are natural goalscorers, while the other two (Marlon Harewood and Marvin Morgan) aren't natural.

"There is a bit of competition on now amongst the four of them."

“Scotty missing is a massive blow and I was still looking for another striker. With him and Ryan you have two goalscorers there and with two behind them pushing then you have options.

“You are a big side and we have Ryan who is aggressive, a lean lad who puts himself about and it’s nice to have competition.’’

Bird will start tomorrow’s home game with AFC Wimbledon, which is scheduled to be the last outing for centre-half David Mirfin before his loan from Scunthorpe expires.

But Moore is hopeful of keeping the 29-year-old until May.

"Mirf's loan deal finishes after Saturday,’’ he said. "We have spoken and I think he will be here until the end of the season.

"He has been massive for us, having him around as well for Dan Jones and Scott Harrison more than anything.

"Jonesy has been unfortunate because he hasn't been playing but he is a young lad and has done nothing wrong.

"He can learn from him and I wouldn't rule them three playing together before the end of the season."