By Paul Fletcher

David Foley has been scoring a lot of goals in the reserves, banging on the first-team door Michael Nelson

Hartlepool defender Michael Nelson is backing the young players at the club to make a real impact as Pools look to win promotion from League Two.

"David Foley scored his first senior goal against Rotherham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy," said Nelson.

"He is only a little lad, just 19, but he is very quick and very lively.

"James Brown missed last season with a cruciate injury but is looking sharp and Phillip Turnbull made his debut on Tuesday at right-back and did well."

Foley came through the ranks at the club and became Hartlepool's youngest player when he made his debut against Port Vale on 28 August 2003 aged 16 years, 105 days.

The South Shields-born teenager has impressed Nelson, who at 24 finds himself as one of the senior figures in the team.

Added Nelson: "David has made a lot of substitute appearances for the first team but has been scoring a lot of goals in the reserves, banging on the door."

Striker Jon Daly is currently joint top of the League Two scoring charts, thanks in large part to a burst of seven goals in eight days.

"Jon took a lot of stick at the start of the season, as did manager Danny Wilson for persisting with him when the goals weren't coming," added Nelson.

"He then scored seven in a week and although he has not scored for three games he has been playing really well - his all-round game has been brilliant."

Wilson took over at Victoria Park in June following Pools' relegation from League One.

And Nelson credits the new manager with ensuring that the team started the current season in the right frame of mind.

"The manager's arrival gave everyone a fresh start and made sure everyone was trying to impress the new boss," said the powerful defender.

"We started the season with a clean slate. As we approached the new campaign everyone was focused on the same thing - trying to get into the manager's thoughts and his starting XI.

The way Danny Wilson works helps the young lands who are coming through Michael Nelson

"He has managed at the highest level. He is very confident in what he says and what he does.

"The way he puts his points across on the training pitch helps to simplify the game. It helps the young lads who are coming through."

Hartlepool are currently 10th in the League Two table but feel they are starting to comes to terms with the different demands of the division.

"The tempo is higher, a bit more frantic, and a lot of the time the ball goes from back to front very quickly," claims Nelson, who has been forming a strong partnership in the centre of defence with Ben Clark.

"A lot of teams have big men up front and try to utilise that and go direct.

"We are trying not to speak about the need to bounce back following relegation but hopefully come May we will be there or thereabouts.