The return of Jordan Robertson will come at just the right time for Scunthorpe United, according to fellow striker Chris Dagnall.

As the Iron continue to struggle in front of goal, and with the halfway point of their season on the horizon, Dagnall says United can only benefit from having more options up front.

Robertson was on the bench at AFC Wimbledon and managed 90 minutes for the first time since breaking his ankle three months ago when he played for United reserves earlier this week.

A first-team run-out may still be a little way off, but Dagnall is looking forward to welcoming him back into the fold.

"It was unfortunate Jordan got injured when he did because I thought he started off alllright," said the Scouser.

"He's come back into it now and you can see he's getting his fitness there in training.

"I'm sure the manager will start looking to get him on in the next few games.

"The manager wants as many different centre forwards as he can at the club to be able to mix it up. He doesn't want three or four all the same type.

"Jordan's another aspect for the manager to look at. If it comes to fruition, then it will be good.

"If you've got games where you're struggling, maybe like Saturday (in the FA Cup) when it was 0-0, you want someone who can come off the bench and change the game for you.

"That's what the manager wants and Jordan's another option at this moment in time."

Saturday sees Hartlepool United visit Glanford Park. Scunthorpe have got the better of them once already this season, in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, while Pools have picked up just four points from their last seven league games.

For Dagnall, the weekend's clash is a chance to get some points on the board ahead of the festive fixture list.

"They went on a good little unbeaten run at the start of the season and did quite well, but they've been struggling a little bit lately and hopefully we can take advantage of that," he said of Hartlepool.

"A lot of teams throughout the season go on runs, that's what we're looking to do ourselves.

"Especially over Christmas, we get games every few days.

"It's an enjoyable period, very tiring, but we go into that series of games full of confidence.

"With a few performances behind us we should do allright.

 "If you're going well, you're waiting for the next one; on the other hand, if you start to struggle, you're dreading the next game.

"As long as we just pick ourselves up a little bit and go on a little run just before the Christmas period, we'll fly through.

"I think we're just in between at the minute. We're not dreading the next game but, it's not brilliant. I'm not going to lie about it, it's not great at the moment.

"We've got to just dig in there, stick away at it and hopefully we can turn the corner."