Hartlepool United's squad players are making the most of the loan system in a bid to get firt-team football.

Boss Neale Cooper is keen on his players to get a regular game and a day after Marcus Richardson returned to Lincoln City, left-back Mark Robinson is poised to go to Spennymoor United on loan after being frozen out of the first-team picture at Victoria Park.

Robinson's last outing this season was in the 4-0 thumping at Blackpool in October and is now behind Matty Robson and John Brackstone in the pecking order.

The left-back, a regular in last season's promotion side, is a friend of Moor's boss Tony Lee, father of Robinson's ex-Pool teammate Graeme.

He could tie up the deal after today's reserve game at Scunthorpe.

Pool also have Adam Boyd at Boston United, where he has earned rave reviews, and goalkeeper Anthony Williams is at Swansea while Paul Arnison is into his second month at Carlisle.

Boyd is likely to stay away from Pool after Christmas and Boston boss Neil Thompson said: "Adam has done well and we are looking to extend his loan for another month as that would mean he would be here over Christmas."

Boston are understood to be keen on making the switch permanent, but Pool will be looking for Boyd to return in the hope he can finally turn potential into ability.

Williams went to Swansea last month but has yet to make an appearance, while Arnison has been a regular in the Carlisle side.

Richardson was in line to make his Lincoln return in last night's LDV Vans Trophy game at Halifax, only for the tie to be called off because of fog.

He said: "I seem to have hit a dead end at Hartlepool. I went to see Neale Cooper last week and said I either wanted to go out on loan, or would he let me go on a free if someone came in for me.

"He said he had no problem with a loan, but he would have to think about letting me go on a permanent deal.

"As soon as I heard Lincoln were willing to have me back, I jumped at the chance. There was no need for me to think about coming back."

Pool's trip to Port Vale, due to be played on January 3, the day when Pool now go to Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup, has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 27.

l Former Pool midfielder Tommy Miller has missed out on an international debut tonight. He was named in the Scotland Future squad for a friendly with Turkey, but last night returned to Ipswich for treatment after picking up an injury at the weekend.