RONNIE MOORE has already signed ten players at Hartlepool United, and the manager will have noted yesterday’s news that David Mirfin has been made available.

The Scunthorpe United centre-half spent three months on loan at Pools last season and played a key role in keeping the side in the Football League.

Moore was already pondering a move for a defender before news of Mirfin’s availability was announced.

With Dan Jones missing last Saturday’s friendly against Chesterfield with a back injury, the young defender is a doubt for the season’s opener with Morecambe.

That could tempt Moore into making a move for Mirfin.

The Pools boss said: “Dan Jones has had a scan, but showed nothing. He’s been better than he was and we hope it’s not too long-term. If it is then we are going to have to get a centre-half in.

“At this stage of pre-season it’s not going to be an experienced one on loan, probably a young kid, but fingers crossed Dan is going to be alright.’’

Moore has one other injury worry in goalkeeper Trevor Carson. He also missed the Chesterfield defeat with a toe injury; ironically Mirfin missed the final three games of last season for Pools with the same problem.

But deputy

“We are a little disappointed Dan missed out at the weekend, same with Trevor. Saturday was the first time in a long time I’ve not been nervous when the ball is around our box.

“Trevor made a save in training on Friday and it hit him on the end of a toe. He didn’t feel it, but then got up Saturday and couldn’t walk on it. He’s had an X-ray Monday and let’s see. We saw what happened to Mirf last season and it kept him out.

“We won’t know until we get the results, but if he’s out there’s no problems with Adam as No 2. It would be difficult to leave him out.’’

Pools ended last season on a high as they staved off what appeared certain relegation and, with a new-look squad and some momentum carried over from the Great Escape, optimism is on the up at Victoria Park.

But wily Moore warned: “We’ve just got to be careful we don’t get carried away. We’ve saved ourselves last year and now we are going to win the league by 20 points!

“That doesn’t happen, whoever you are. It’s about getting it right so we are nice and stable and doing it right, not looking over our shoulders at the horrible position we were in last year – if we can nick into the top seven then that’s fantastic.

“If we can keep clean sheets we will do alright as we will get into good areas at the other end with Bings’ pace and Billy (Paynter) taking up some good positions up top.’’

“We are happy with how it’s going, we are raring to go. There was, on Saturday, a lot of plus points and they are a team from a higher level.

“Morecambe are a good footballing side, so they will give us a good test.

“We on Saturday were an awful lot better than we have been. If we had played against Chesterfield in the way we were after Scunthorpe we would have been beaten five or six, so we have worked hard and taken it on board.’’

“It’s all about next weekend, that’s the important one.’’