RODNEY…. STILL RODNEY. The screaming words from Sky Sports on the most dramatic and harrowing days for Hartlepool United.

Devante Rodney, the unlikeliest of possible saviours, scored twice on the final day of the season two years ago as Pools almost stayed in the Football League. Almost.

The striker, on as a substitute that day, was calmness personified as everyone was an emotional wreck around him to earn Pools victory over Doncaster.

It wasn’t enough as Newport sent Pools down.

A year after his release and Rodney is back at the Super 6 Stadium today, as part of a Halifax team with as little to play for as Pools.

On loan from Salford, where he moved on a free last summer, the 20-year-old has five goals in nine games, including two in his last two.

Rodney arrived at Pools when Hignett was in charge, raw, not fit and recovering from injury, he was nowhere near ready for first-team football.

"He is a good kid,’’ reflected Hignett. “Under me he wasn't quite ready to play as he'd been injured.

"Devante has got everything you need to be successful at this level. He's quick, strong, scoring goals - we have to be careful with him as he'll have a point to prove.’’

Another with reason to impress is Gavan Holohan, the midfielder who scored on his first start last weekend.

He has a short-term deal until the end of the season. First he had to wait two weeks for international clearance to arrive from Ireland after leaving Waterford and then he needed time to build up his match-fitness.

Handed a start last weekend in the absence of the ill Liam Noble, Holohan netted Pools’ goal at Aldershot. He is in line to start against Halifax at the Super 6 Stadium as he hopes for an extension to the deal he signed until the end of the season.

Hignett said: "It hasn't been frustrating for him - he's just been trying to get fit.

"We have GPS and we have been able to see where he is with his fitness.

"Recently he has been appearing on the stats so I knew he was ready to come in, fit enough to play.

"For it being his first start since October, I thought he did very well. He could have scored a couple, got his goal.

"He wants to do well. He is hungry. And that's the type of people we want at this club.

"We want players who will run through brick walls for you. We had a gameplan and he stuck to it - that's what we want from players here.

"I want players to follow instructions and give 110% every time they pull on the shirt.’’

Today’s game features two mid-table teams with nothing to play for. Both have eyes on next season and Hignett admitted: “It is a dead rubber really. Players should be professional and they are in these games. But they just lose that 5 per cent, even though they are putting it in.

"It is unavoidable. It happens but as a manager you have to try and stop that happening as much.

"These lads, whether subconscious or not, are ready for the end of the season. They know they can't go up, they know they can't go down. I will be trying my best to get them up for the last three.

"The last game against Salford is a big one - that could decide whether they get promoted or not. If I was a player I'd want to play in that and spoil the party. That's the attitude my players have to have.’’