MICHAEL WOODS is looking forward to a Hartlepool United reunion.

The attacking midfielder left Pools for Harrogate Town in November, ending a four-year spell at the Super 6 Stadium, and the sides meet on Saturday.

Woods scored on his debut for his new club, but has yet to find a settled spot in the team.

A crowd favourite at Pools, last season’s top scorer admitted: “Obviously when you play against your old team in the same season that you’ve transferred it adds a bit of needle and I’ve already had a few messages from some of the Hartlepool lads, but I’m really looking forward to the game.

“I am trying to treat it the same as any other match, but when it’s a former club there is always a bit of extra spice and it would definitely be nice to get one over on them.”

He added: “The Hartlepool fans always impressed me, they follow the team in great numbers away from home considering the distances they have to travel up and down the country from where they are in the North-East.

“They’ll make a lot of noise on Saturday and that will only add to the atmosphere, but we’re at home and it’s up to us to impose ourselves and our style of play on the game and set the tempo.’’

Town won in the FA Trophy at Dover last weekend, but have taken only one point from 15 in the National League of late. They were one of the most impressive sides to visit Pools this season.

Pools, boosted by the three new signings on Friday, have to improve on last weekend’s display.

And boss Richard Money said: “It probably wasn’t as bad last week as I thought it was after the game when I spoke, there’s always a reaction from a manager. I’m not suggesting that it wasn’t a bad performance, but sometimes you can over analyse games.

“So we have to move on from that and pick up where we left off after the other games.

“I block things off in six and look at it like that. I arrived after Maidenhead and we have won two, drawn two and lost two of those six games. It’s not what we wanted.

“We wanted to put a surge in and challenge. In my five league games we have seen signs of improvement and progress and we have to do that more int eh next six games.

“Harrogate have had a little blip and every team has one, maybe apart from the one who ends up as champions.

“Orient seem to be consistent, Salford had a little dip, Harrogate too but they are up there for a reason and are a pretty good team.’’