DANNY Wilson hopes the upturn in fortunes his side are experiencing will reap rewards in the new year.

When the transfer window opens in January, Wilson is hoping to move players out as well as bringing some in and, hopefully, extend the loan spells of Andy Monkhouse and Darryl Duffy. Duffy is due to return to Hull City on January 2 after two months at Victoria Park, while Monkhouse's loan spell from Swindon Town has two games remaining.

Both have impressed and played key roles in Pools' four-game winning run, which they will look to extend when Rochdale visit Victoria Park tomorrow night.

With Pool in form and moving into the promotion picture, Wilson knows attracting new faces next month will be easier if they are in the top seven.

Pools are currently seventh after last week's win at Bristol Rovers and Wilson said: "Hopefully we can keep it going into January. When you are on the top of your game it is the best time to strengthen.

"It also makes it easier to bring players in. They see you are challenging towards the top end of the table and it makes them that bit more enthusiastic to come and join us.

"We have to be an attractive proposition for the type of players we are trying to bring in."

After three away wins from four, Wilson added: "The lads have responded very well to put this little run together. We are starting to close the gap.

"We have picked up a few wins but we had to do that if we wanted to get into the areas where we want to be.

"We are virtually in there now but there is no way we will be sitting back and think everything is OK.''

l Michael Rae's second-half goal was enought to give Hartlepool Reserves a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Darlington Reserves at Billingham Town's Bedford Terrace ground last night.

The striker cracked a 25-yarder into the bottom right-hand corner midway through the second period, and Jim Provett was rarely troubled in the home goal.

Pools: Provett; P Turnbull, Jones, D Williams, Robson, Strachan, Maidens, Young, Rae, Brown, Fole. Subs: Davison, Anderson, Haigh, Hetherington, Tymon.