HARTLEPOOL United are still in the market for a central striker with the transfer window closing in less than three weeks time. 

Pools have brought in free agents Mark Cullen and Olufela Olomola over the summer while striker Will Goodwin has signed on loan until January this week from Championship side Stoke City. 

Former Solihull Moors, Wrexham and Chesterfield striker Adi Yussuf is currently training with the club. 

The 29-year-old was released by Blackpool in the summer after two years at the club where he failed to make a single appearances for the Tangerines. 

There's no indication that Pools are prepared to offer Yussuf a deal and it's understood to be a loose arrangement with the striker just training at the club.

Yussuf's most prolific spell was with Solihull Moors when he scored 17 goals in 49 appearances in a season where they lost in the play-offs against Dave Challinor's AFC Fylde. 

Speaking on Hartlepool United's next transfer targets, Dave Challinor said: “Still the forward areas, especially with central forwards. That’s where we need to add.

"We potentially would look at maybe some balance, a left-sided centre-back which we’ve spoken about before to give us a natural one there but it’s not the be all and end all.

"We’re in a pretty good place in terms of the size of the squad. If the opportunity comes to strengthen and potentially move players out, be that on loan, permanent, whatever it is, then we’ll look to do that.

"We want to make sure, August 31st, we’re a strong as we can be and if players become available that will strengthen us, without doubt we’re going to look at them."

Pools have signed ten players during the transfer window. Challinor and his coaching staff have been working endlessly to bring new talent into the squad in, what was, a quick turnaround for the start of the League Two season.

The Pools boss admits that the summer of recruitment, coinciding with pre-season training, has been an uphill task. 

“It is difficult and it’s difficult for many reasons" Challinor said. 

“There’s still players trying to earn contracts at clubs at a level they’ll probably not end up at.

“There are still clubs from lower divisions paying a lot more than clubs in League Two so there’s lots of different parameters that are difficult.

“It doesn’t change. It’s always tough. This year more than anything it seems a little bit tougher and probably, perception wise for us.

"Maybe it seems a little bit tougher because you’re limited by a deadline we know that once August 31st passes, except people who are free agents who are out of contract, we can’t do anything until January so we’ve got that little bit of pressure on us but it has been a tough summer and will continue to be but within that we have to be patient and that’s what we’ll certainly be."

Pools are next in action at Barrow tomorrow afternoon in League Two. 

Olufela Olomola is crrently being assessed after receiving a knock and Mark Cullen is still battling back to full fitness meaning Will Goodwin could be considered for a starting place at Holker Street after signing on loan this week.