Barker scored 16 times last season but was plagued with injury

Hartlepool United manager Danny Wilson is confident that striker Ritchie Barker is over the injury problems that blighted the 33-year-old last season.

Despite his knocks Barker top-scored with 16 goals in 2007-08 and Wilson is hopeful the experienced striker is ready to return to first-team action.

"Ritchie's as fit as anybody in terms of the workload," Wilson told BBC Tees.

"He's as fit as he could be in a physical sense. We'll utilise him as best we can."

As well as welcoming back the talismanic Barker, Wilson has invested in midfield talent in the shape of Ritchie Jones and Alan Power.

A former midfielder himself, Wilson has already set the newcomers targets, particularly in terms of adding to Pools' attacking threat.

"We brought the two boys in and the aim is for them to get in the team and stay in the team," he said.

"Overall what we potentially have got is goals from midfield. From that area they're both capable of scoring."