TWO more players could be about to leave Hartlepool United in the near future.
After Marco Gabbiadini's injury-enforced retirement this week, Paul Arnison and Adam Boyd are likely to be next to leave Victoria Park.
Arnison is on loan at Carlisle and Boyd has just returned from a two-month loan spell at Boston.
But both Hartlepool-born players know they don't figure in the long-term plans of manager Neale Cooper and permanent deals are in the offing.
Cooper has revamped the Pool squad this season and is keen on turning the loan period of Chris Shuker into a permanent deal.
The winger is into the second month of an impressive loan period from Manchester City and is available on a free transfer.
Arnison has been a mainstay at Carlisle as they aim to achieve the impossible and survive relegation to the Conference.
Kevin Henderson and Marcus Richardson have left this season, while Mark Robinson and Jermaine Easter are both on loan at Spennymoor United after falling out of the first-team picture at Pool.
Boss Paul Simpson will speak to Cooper this week in a bid to secure his services and Arnison is relishing the chance to play regular first-team football.
Cumbrians' chairman John Courtenay is full of admiration for Arnison's commitment to the cause.
He said: "He's only on loan but the guy gives it 110 per cent. He lives his football, he eats it, he just wants to play, he wants to win and he'll do whatever it takes to do that.
"You just look at his attitude and then you look at some of the other guys who we've tried to get. It's very difficult to explain but I think the problem is that professional footballers have been pampered for a long, long time.''
Boyd has been a regular at Boston and boss Neil Thompson is ready to offer the striker first-team football.
Boston are without a game this weekend and Thompson could ask Boyd to return for a third and final loan month before their game with Hull on January 31.
Pool coach Martin Scott hinted that Boyd will be given another chance to prove his worth at his hometown club.
"Adam went to Boston to get games under his belt and work on his match sharpness and consistency,'' he said.
"He's done well there, scored a few goals and their manager has been happy, but now he will be back with us for the foreseeable future."
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