HARTLEPOOL United hope to have influential skipper Sam Collins back in action sooner rather than later.

The central defender tweaked medial knee ligaments in Saturday's win over Oldham Athletic and sat out Monday's loss at Notts County as a result. 

He's not in contention for the FA Cup trip to Watford this weekend, but the home game with Dagenham on January 15 is a realistic target.

"Assessing Sam's injury and indications are that it isn't as bad as we first feared and we are hoping - hoping - that he will be back a week on Saturday to face Dagenham.

"If he is, then that's great news.''

"My gut feeling is that he will be ready, Sam feels that and James does as well. He prompts us not to be rushing and desperately trying to get someone on loan.

"We could be scratching to get someone in on loan for Watford on Saturday or even if they were not to play like that.''

Monday's loss ended Pools' winning streak and Wadsworth, with his team nicely placed just outside the play-offs, admitted: "We are in far better shape than we could have expected and a lot of people had us written off as relegation candidates. 

"But we will dust ourselves down and come back.

"I thought we did OK and then went in one-down. Other games we have not been as good and gone in one-up. In the overall picture and what these players have done this season is pleasing. 

"We lost one game, but by and large we competed well. It's no reality check. I aim for the play-offs, that's what I want, but I also said the reality is that the chairman, and owners, is to maintain League One football and that is a realistic target - but we want to do better and give people something to be proud of.''

He added: "I knew we would lose a game sooner or later. The second goal was a real killer at a time we were doing OK, nothing more than that. 

"But I wasn't disappointed with it, I don't mind losing 3-0 and we lost that way because we were brave and pushed players on for a way back into the game.

"Conceding the first goal was disappointing right on half-time and we didn't deserve to be behind. 

"We have done so well lately, how can you be critical? The players are confident and a good bunch, I told them they have no shame in losing that game, I will take the flak for goals two and three when we were chasing.

"We have a points haul away from home that not many teams will have.''