In-form Boro forward Charlie Wyke ruled out of Plymouth Argyle v Hartlepool United

INJURED: Charlie Wyke on the ground injured against Northampton Town. Picture by FRANK REID

The 21-year-old opened the scoring for Hartlepool United after only 46 seconds with a composed finished after a fine through ball from Tommy Miller.

But mid-way through the first-half he suffered a heavy knock to the back of his head and was unconscious inside the penalty area while medics attended to him.

It was a worrying sight and after several minutes the on-loan Middlesbrough striker was eventually stretchered off and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

“When Charlie went down he was out.

“The rulings are in place now and there is no second question – whether Charlie feels 10 per cent, 50 per cent, 100 per cent – if you are knocked out, you’re out and you come off the pitch.

“The medical reports are that he is OK and he came back to the ground after the match.”

Asked whether Wyke’s absence increases the need to add additional firepower up front, Cooper said he has been busy watching strikers and will continue to look.

Pools have been short on forwards all season and the need only increased when Luke James signed for Peterborough United on deadline day.

Cooper told SportMail: “People think that I am not trying.

“I was at a game Monday night watching strikers, I will be at another game Wednesday afternoon watching strikers.

“With Luke leaving, my job is to see what we need.

“With Charlie now missing the questions is are the players that we have left good enough to get us results?

“If not, then my job is to get some people in that are better and who want to succeed.

“The challenge is there.

“If nobody comes in the door we have players more than good enough to get goals at Plymouth but it is a challenge.”

– RICHARD MENNEAR