DAN JARVIS and Elliott Durrell have given Dean Keates food for thought ahead of tonight's clash with promotion rivals Hartlepool United at The Racecourse.

Wrexham's six game unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday as the Reds went down 3-0 to Aldershot.

Jarvis, surprisingly dropped at The Recreation Ground after impressing in last Tuesday's 2-0 win over Woking, and fellow midfielder Elliott Durrell both caught the manager's eye when they appeared as second half substitutes.

"They have to," Keates said about the likes of Jarvis coming back into his plans for the visit of Hartlepool.

"He came on and had an impact, Elliott came on and hit the crossbar. They always come into play.

"When you are in a good place and building momentum, the team doesn't always pick itself but you want to go with players who are on the front foot.

"Players who are on the outside and are training well, they just have to wait for their opportunity but they came in and done well."

Wrexham made a bright start against Aldershot but missed chances proved costly as the Reds never recovered from going behind midway through the first half with the home side scoring another two goals after the break.

Utility player Mark Carrington, who again filled in as a centre-back, admits Wrexham need to be more ruthless in front of goal.

"I have slotted in well," said Carrington. "I will play anywhere and I played in the back three last season and enjoyed it.

"I have enjoyed coming back in and playing in that role again.

"It was disappointing to lose and in the grand scheme of things a 3-0 defeat doesn't look good.

"But if you look at the first 25 minutes, we absolutely battered them and had great chances.

"We have got to take our chances. We have got to do better when we have got them on the ropes and finish them off.

"If we score some of them it is a different game; goals change games and that is what happened but we will go again."