ANDY MONKHOUSE wants his future thrashed out and remains hopeful he will be staying at Hartlepool United.

Monkhouse's one-month loan at Victoria Park is due to end after Saturday's trip to Bury and Swindon boss Paul Sturrock has revealed an intention to get him back.

The left-midfielder's displays have been a major factor in Pools turning around an indifferent start to the campaign and climbing into a play-off place.

Danny Wilson, the Pools boss, wants to keep him in the North-East but Sturrock is only keen to do business if the Robins receive cash up front.

Monkhouse is out of contract next summer and will be free to leave for nothing. Yet Sturrock claimed yesterday that 'unless there is a very lucrative offer for him' he will be heading back to the County Ground for Christmas.

That is not ideal for Monkhouse, whose family are from Leeds and has enjoyed playing his football further north, although he accepts he could have to head back to Wiltshire.

"I'm just enjoying my football at the minute," said Monkhouse. "My last game is Bury but I'm intending to speak to the manager of Swindon, see what his plans are and my plans are and hopefully go from there.

"I don't really know what my preference is. Paul Sturrock said come here for a month, it's nothing longer than that. So unless something changes I expect to go back.

"But if Hartlepool and the gaffer want me I would be delighted to stay, especially the way we are playing at the minute.

"I live in Leeds and it's a lot better for me - it's an hour and ten minutes for me to get home and three hours from Swindon. I've got to consider a few things but I'll have to speak to the manager at Swindon and the gaffer here before anything gets sorted out."

If Monkhouse does head back to Swindon Pools will have to cope without a man they have come to rely on over the last four weeks.

It could not have arrived at a worse time. Pools would have to get through home games against Grimsby and Peterborough, and then travel to Mansfield on New Year's Day, before being able to recruit a new face in the January transfer window.

Good results would put Pools into the automatic promotion mix, with Swindon, and that is something Monkhouse feels is achievable.

"Hartlepool are like Swindon, it's the same reason why I went there - a big club in the lower leagues who should be higher up," said the 26-year-old.