ANDY Monkhouse is enjoying the rewards of a change in his outlook.
The Hartlepool United winger has long been encouraged by Chris Turner and Colin West to play a more attacking game.
His reward this season has been eight goals from the left flank, the latest of which helped Pools to a 2-1 win over Oldham last weekend. He now has 26 goals in 118 games for Pools.
“Andy has eight goals this season and we have been trying all season to get him pushing into the box,’’ revealed Turner. “We have been encouraging him to go for the back stick.
“He got two goals earlier in the season against Walsall and slowly but surely he is getting there. He loves playing up front in training and he can do that.
“He gets the ball, turns and sees openings and he wins his headers – he put one against the crossbar on Saturday and that chance deserved a goal.
“We played him on the right and he can play there well, he’s got eight goals by halfway and is looking at double figures which will be his best total.’’ Turner is hopeful of landing one of his transfer targets in the coming days, with Cork’s Joe Gamble top of his list after he impressed on trial last month.
Pools will be short of Sam Collins (Achilles) and Gary Liddle (hamstring) for Saturday’s trip to Charlton.
Antony Sweeney will take his spot in midfield, despite fears he would be forced to sit out the Oldham game after feeling a tight hamstring in defeat at Leeds on Boxing Day.
“He would have played if the game had gone ahead last Monday, he was suffering a bit at Leeds, but came through Oldham well,’’ said Turner.
“He was full of energy and got forward like we know he can. I said to the players after the game that if we had played in the second half on this occasion like we did against Yeovil we could have got four or five.
“But it’s difficult. Dave Penney (Oldham boss) was giving his instructions to his team, and he wanted the ball in behind our back four to turn our defenders. When a team does that it doesn’t make for a free-flowing game.
“But conditions were more for putting defenders under pressure and squeezing up the play.
“The be-all and end-all is three points. There will be better games this season, but we needed the points.’’ With attendances dipping at Victoria Park – Saturday’s was the lowest for a Football League game in a decade – the club is asking for supporters to offer suggestions on how to increase gates.
“In the past it’s a fact that clubs have been intimidated by the atmosphere at Victoria Park and we want to get back to that,’’ said chief executive Russ Green.
“There has already been a number of suggestions within the club and we will be working on those in the coming weeks.
“But we had some great ideas from the fans at the start of the campaign and we would be delighted to hear from them again.’’ Supporters are asked to email media@hartlepoolunited.
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