TOP scorer Gime Toure is available again today for Hartlepool United, with boss Dave Challinor having no concerns over picking the attacker.

The Hartlepool United boss was critical of the Frenchman after he was hit with a three-game ban for striking an Oxford opponent in the FA Cup third round defeat.

But Toure is available again and in contention for today’s home game with Stockport County.

Challinor said: “Gime is in the plans. I was as frustrated as anyone that with injuries we couldn’t pick our top scorer. We have still created chances and scored, but him being available again is massive. We have more options on the pitch and the bench.

“We were a bit sparse last week and Luke Molyneux has another week in and he’s got to be in a position where we can start and we are starting to see that. Him being fit is like a new signing.’’

New loan signings Macauley Southam-Hailes and Tim Odusina have arrived on loan for the rest of the season from Fleetwood and Norwich City respectively and will start today in a new-look back four.

Nicke Kabamba has moved to Kilmarnock and Peter Kioso to Luton in the last week and Challinor added: “We have sold two players, but I don’t expect anything, but I will be backed and competing to get out of this league.

“We have a lot of money tired up in injured players, which is a big strain. We have to be as efficient as we can to have a chance of doing something this year.

“Where we are, we need enough in place to improve us and not weaken us to help us get a run together. Three unbeaten and then those two away points look better.’’

He added: “The past few weeks we have been truing to make signings and how things work this month with players coming out of the Football League it can be frustrating. You get a lot of hesitation, which can be frustrating.

“Macauley coming in is good, one player on a list of a few we ask about. Sometimes you get a no, but this has been a case of circumstances changing for them and they are happy for him to come out and play.

“He’s played men’s football and will be a good fit here and a good chance for him to play at a club where there’s expectation from a fan base and a structure of a Football League club.’’

Kabamba has scored in his first two games for Killie, against Queens Park and then Celtic and Challinor said of the hard-working frontman: “Nicke has done well straight away. Playing in a team which has been struggling a bit, they have lost their last six SPL games. For them something had to give, a cup game eases them back in and Nicke scoring from the bench helps.

“To play against Celtic and score will do him good. They need to do all they can to finish in the top six, but a bottom six finish will give them a chance when the league splits to win some games to the end of the season.’’