DAVE Challinor has issued a challenge to his Hartlepool United fringe forwards to take their opportunity in the side when they face Morecambe tomorrow evening. 

Pools host the League One side in the Papa Johns Trophy off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Stevenage. 

The squad's current crop of forwards haven't been particularly potent throughout the season. Will Goodwin remains the only out and out striker to have netted for Pools in League Two this season. Luke Molyneux, who has also been used as a central striker, has chipped in with one goal as well this season. 

The club's top scorer is still loanee Tyler Burey who has returned to his parent club Millwall to recover from a long term hamstring injury. 

It's back to back home games for Pools this week, firstly against Morecambe before Northampton make the trip up to Victoria Park. Challinor hopes the midweek cup tie can give him and the coaching staff food for thought going into the weekend. 

“We were going to make changes anyway" Challinor told BBC Radio Tees Sport. 

“Ultimately people will be asking for opportunities so all the forwards that didn’t play will play.

“Will Goodwin, Culls (Mark Cullen), Fela (Olufela Olomla), potentially Cooky (Jordan Cook) will play.

“There’s no bigger opportunity for them in terms of playing.

“Ultimately if you go and grab the baton, you’re going to start on Saturday.

“At the moment, no one is sticking their head above the parapet and saying ‘I’m your man’ so you’re going to get an opportunity. If you take that opportunity, it then remains with you.

“In terms of what you see on Tuesday, I’d suggest you see a very motivated group of forwards that are desperate to, not only score, but do themselves the world of good to be able to start the game on Saturday.

“They will make our decisions for us. They might our decisions very easy. I hope they do.

“They might make them tough but like I say, we’ll see where we are at.

“It’s a game that we want to win and we want to try and progress in the competition.

“In terms of us as a squad, it’s an opportunity for players to play games that may be that chance to show what they can do and freshen our minds up in terms of where they are at.

“We’ll use it but fundamentally, we want to win the game."

Pools will hopefully welcome back David Fergsuon and Gavan Holohan this week who have both been out of action through injury. However, the weekend may come too soon for veteran defender Gary Liddle.