Blackpool boss is wary of a familiar face when they meet Plymouth Argyle

The 24-year-old made the permanent move to Plymouth during the January transfer window, having previously enjoyed two loan spells with Ryan Lowe’s side.

Hardie endured a bit of a nightmare stay at Bloomfield Road, featuring just 12 times and scoring once following a big-money move from Rangers.

The striker, who hasn’t found the back of the net since making his move permanent, has mostly been used off the bench for Argyle in recent weeks.

Argyle’s top scorer Luke Jephcott may feature against Pool despite being in the Wales’ Under-21 squad playing this afternoon.

Speaking before Jephcott’s availability to play tomorrow was confirmed, Critchley said: “His goalscoring record is very good in this division, he’s a good goalscorer.

“He’s come through their system, so great credit to Ryan for giving him an opportunity to play and he’s taken his chance.

“If he doesn’t play, that might mean Ryan Hardie plays. It always worries me when an ex-player plays against you because there’s always that chance of them coming back to score against their old club, which happens on a regular basis.”

Blackpool will be looking to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered at Home Park on the opening day of the campaign.

It was a harsh defeat for Critchley’s side, who dominated large swathes of the game.

“It was an excellent performance that day. We played really, really well,” Pool’s head coach said.

“We were dominant and how we came away losing, I don’t know, but it was the start of that period at the beginning of the season where we were still getting to know each other.

“Sometimes it was just pure bad luck and circumstances going against you. I’ve never known a period like that.

“You have the odd game where you have someone sent off or you lose a game you shouldn’t, but to have it over so many games, I’ve never known anything like it.”

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