TWO mainstays of the Hartlepool United midfield are edging near to a return to action.

Nobby Solano and Antony Sweeney have both been absent for the majority of the current poor run, which is made up of five losses from six.

Solano damaged a hamstring in the loss at Notts County on October 9, with Sweeney hobbling off the following week in defeat to Wycombe with a groin problem.

However, they could be in the frame for Saturday's trip to Leyton Orient.

"Nobby is training - good news, Sweeney is training - good news. We do need them,'' admitted Wadsworth.

"Both are pretty near [to fitness] now, but Tony is a little bit behind Nobby.

"Nobby trained on Friday and did some fitness work at the weekend so he may be back into full training this week."

Wadsworth added: "That would be good news because that quality we desperately need and have desperately lacked at times.

"Sweeney might be a little bit further behind but we'll see."

Saturday's reverse to League One leaders Charlton and Wadsworth admitted: "I will apologise to the fans for this. It will come through I'm sure and I feel the fans were fantastic on Saturday.

"People were coming up at the need to say ‘Mick, it's not your fault la de da de da' I don't need that, but I am the leader, I coach them and it's the leader whose head is likely to role. But I don't feel that's the case here.

"We've done too much for a knee-jerk reaction but we have to dig ourselves out of it damn quick.''

Pools youth team last night lost 3-1 to Bury at Victoria Park in the FA Youth Cup.

After falling behind to a penalty, Pools soon levelled through Steven Snaith.

But Callum Wilson was sent off for Pools before half-time and they were unable to turn the game around.