Pools make a triple swoop to boost their squad

Michael Raynes has moved from Crewe, striker Nicke Kabamba following him from Havant and Waterlooville, with Sunderland's Luke Molyneux completing the triple swoop.

All three are expected to start Saturday's game at Harrogate which is televised live on BT Sport.

Raynes has been out of favour at Crewe this season and scored against Pools for Carlisle in September 2016.

Pools boss Richard Money was hoping to confirm Raynes and Molyneux yesterday, but has had to wait 24 hours.

With Andrew Davies and Harvey Rodgers both leaving Pools in the last two weeks, Money needed to add to his defensive options.

The manager told the club website: “We’re young, certainly across the back, so an experienced head and someone who is going to communicate what we want on the pitch is what the team needs and that should help us for the rest of the season.

“Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t think you could get someone like Michael in January so the moment we knew he was available we tried to make it happen pretty quickly.”

Kabamba, a former Portsmouth striker has already scored twice for Havant and Waterlooville at Harrogate this season.

Molyneux spent the first half of the season on loan at Gateshead, playing his final game for the club against Pools on New Year's Day before returning to Sunderland.

Money said: “We’ve been working on it for a couple of weeks now and we’re pleased we’ve been able to get it done with Sunderland and with Luke.

“I think he can come in and give us something different to what we currently have.

“He has a great left foot and the one thing people will have seen in his game is the quality of his delivery from set-pieces so we’re delighted to add him to the squad.”