Brown has scored 31 goals in his 129 career appearances

Hartlepool United director of sport Chris Turner has warned fans not to expect too much from striker James Brown on his return from injury.

Brown scored twice in the reserves in midweek and could make the bench for Saturday's visit of Huddersfield Town.

"What's required in matches and first-team games is different from training," he told BBC Tees.

"There's no way we're going to throw him into the fray until the physiotherapist and James are happy."

The 23-year-old academy graduate has suffered two knee ligament ruptures that have sidelined him for large periods of last term and this season.

And Turner admitted the caution surrounding Brown's latest comeback is justified, given his past breakdowns.

He said: "I've said all along, even last season, we're going to miss a player of the calibre of James Brown, but he's a million miles away from starting in the first team.

"You only have to see that he was only on for 25 minutes but he scored two great goals, but it's going to take James a while.

"I remember at the start of the season James was finding it tough to finish 90 minutes, he'd just been out for two to three months.

"I know people will be willing because he's sitting there on the bench and put him on, but we'll put him on when it's the right for James Brown.

"It's great to see him back, and we've missed him, and obviously in the last 16 games he's going to play a major part for us."

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