‘He’s improved game on game’ - City loanee impressing with Hartlepool United

Timi Odusina continues to impress during his loan stint with Hartlepool United, with boss Dave Challinor stating that his physical improvement has made him a better player.

The 20-year-old joined mid table Hartlepool in January after returning from a lengthy injury lay-off. Challinor worked with Odusina at AFC Fylde last season, where he featured on nine occasions to help the Coasters reach the National League play-off final.

"He came into a club at Fylde last year and played a few games at full-back," Challinor said.

"I think, as with a lot of centre-backs, especially young ones when they go out and play men's football, they'll go out and play sometimes as a midfielder or a full-back to find their feet a little bit."

Hartlepool are preparing to face high-flying Boreham Wood on Saturday, with Odusina emerging as a key component of the Pools defence. Challinor explains how Odusina's work to improve himself physically during his spell on the sidelines has enhanced his defensive ability.

"But he's a year further on, a year stronger, a year more experienced. He had an injury which has kept him in the gym a bit more and he's built physically.

"He has pace and that's a massive attribute for a defender, particularly at the highest level.

"He wants to defend and head the ball, which are attributes that will potentially take him a long way as a defender and I think he's improved game on game," Challinor told the Hartlepool Mail.