DESPITE missing out on the chance to make the top six last weekend, Hartlepool boss Martin Scott knows his squad is on the right track.

After four successive wins in League One and the FA Cup, Pool lost 2-1 at home to Brentford, a defeat which kept Pool in mid-table.

And, despite the reverse and a somewhat indifferent start to the season, Scott, who is keen on taking Ipswich midfielder cum striker Dean McDonald to Victoria Park, is confident of a successful season.

Scott signed four new players over the summer and knows that there is more to come from his new signings as they adapt to life at Victoria Park.

He said: "When players come to the club they make instant friends in the set-up. There's always new faces to bed in and get to know and trust people.

"We went to Holland in the summer and it helped everyone bed in well, the spirit was and is brilliant.

"When players move there is not just the football factors - there's the family as well.

"Moving house - do I rent or buy? Family moving up, hotels to live in at first, there's a lot going off.

"Now the players have come through that and all the players here have played their part and I think there is a lot more to come from everyone as well.''

Pool have missed the goals of Adam Boyd and Joel Porter who are on the long-term injured list.

But Scott admitted: "We've had injuries which have hit us hard and all the players have roles to play.

"But we are well aware that if we don't keep on top of things and keep working hard this game will kick you where it hurts.

"Four wins in a row was great, but it didn't mean we had cracked it.

"We come up against a team who are right up there at top when it comes to being organised and knowing their jobs - it's what we demand as well.

"I keep saying that we have a great set of lads and it's a pleasure to come to work on a morning for training because we have 30 or so players all working hard and enjoying their football.''

Ipswich boss Joe Royle will allow McDonald to move to Pool on loan.

The 19-year-old, who can play right wing or up front, has made eight appearances this season.

Royle said: "Hartlepool have expressed an interest in Dean going there on loan for a month.

"We've had a chat about it and it will be a good opportunity for him."

* Blackpool caretaker manager Simon Grayson has refused to rule out the possibility of taking over the reins on a full-time basis.

''I'm not ruling myself out but I'm not going to say I'm going to get it either,'' he said.