HARTLEPOOL dual free agent signings Jordan Cook and Mike Fondop will be assessed in training today to see whether they will travel with the squad for tomorrow's trip to Oldham Athletic.

Cook, 31, was most recently at Gateshead and has been involved with the club's training set up for a number of weeks before officially putting pen-to-paper. 

Fondop, 27, has scored over 50 league goals in his career but was released by League One side Burton Albion and has been on the lookout for a club since. 

Both forwards have added attacking options to Pools squad with Will Goodwin, Olufela Olomola and Mark Cullen being their current central strikers. 

While Pools have made a strong start to the season, the majority of their goals have come from other areas of the pitch with Goodwin being the only striker to have netted in League Two this season. 

Manager Dave Challinor said: "They're something different to what we've got. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out we're a bit young up top and with that comes inconsistencies.

"We need a goalscorer and need to find a solution to that. We need a focal point and a presence up front and both provide that up front.

"Cooky has been in with us for a month and played in some of the bounce games and scored some goals. He's got the attributes we're looking for and is a good finisher, will be a goal threat, has experience and lives local to here. He ticks a lot of boxes.

"He's had an injury and dropped down to Gateshead to get some games. He had opportunities to go to other clubs but he was desperate to stay here and earn a deal.

"He (Fondop) has more experience at National League level but he's physical and will get himself in goalscoring areas. He's got decent mobility as well and will occupy defenders and will allow us to get up the pitch. Tuesday was a prime example of us not being able to do that."

Both strikers will be looking to make their mark in the squad as Pools look to build on their strong start to the season when they go to Boundary Park. 

Oldham are embroiled in crisis ahead of the game as they sit bottom of the league as the fans portest against the club's current regime. 

Asked whether his new striking pair will be involved for tomorrow's trip to Oldham, Challinor added: "We'll see where we're at. Cooky has trained the past month, Mike was with us for a week and we'll have a chat with them to see where they are and we'll do what we can to try and win.

The Northern Echo: Dave Challinor relays instruction to his Pools players. PICTURE MARK FLETCHER.Dave Challinor relays instruction to his Pools players. PICTURE MARK FLETCHER.

"Cooky came out of the league, dropped down to get some games at Gateshead and was persistent in the fact that he didn't just want to jump back in at a club at a lower level. He could have quite easily signed for Gateshead or another non-league side.

"Credit to him, he’s not done that and been given an opportunity to train with us and really show what I can do. If that takes longer to grab that opportunity then so be it. 

"From Mike’s perspective, it’s tough because he went from the National League to League One so when you come out of there, your first thought is to try and stay in League One. If you can’t do that then you look at League Two and the longer you leave it, the more difficult it can become to find a club.

"He’s probably a victim of pitching himself at the level he was at and wanting to stay in League One. We spoke to other players in the same boat if you like and we had positive conversations with one in particular but he got a League One offer and decided to stay there which is their prerogative.

"It’s probably a good sign that they’ve backed  themselves to play as high as possible and persisted with that rather than taking the easy option and dropping down and getting a wage."