Pools were able to field players such as James Brown on the bench

Hartlepool United director of sport Chris Turner believes his squad finally has the strength in depth to bolster their League One challenge.

Pools drew at MK Dons on the opening day, and Turner is optimistic he has the quality, most notably on the bench, to avoid last season's struggle.

"It's one of the most important aspects of your line-up," he told BBC Tees.

"It's looking better now whereas last season sometimes we had three young pros on the bench who weren't ready."

Turner handed debuts to six players in the match, with Hartlepool-born defender Peter Hartley one of those to make an impression.

And although the former Sunderland graduate arrived on Teesside as a centre-half, Turner believes he can mould the 21-year-old into a useful full-back.

"Peter played a number of games at Sunderland in the reserves against Blackburn Rovers. There was a right winger who we've kept an eye on because he's direct, quick and gets behind you but Peter handled him well," he said.

"Some people might think, 'He came here as a centre-half', and I know he came here as a centre-half in name, but I think he can become a very calm, assured left-back."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version