TWO North-East old boys made their return yesterday, as Steve Howey and Thomas Butler signed short-term deals at Hartlepool United.

After spending time at Victoria Park on trial and playing for the reserves in midweek, Howey and Butler have signed until the end of the season to boost Pool's squad for the play-off push.

Ex-Newcastle and England defender Howey won't be involved in tonight's home game with Huddersfield Town, but Butler, who spent six years at Sunderland, could be on the bench.

Howey left Bolton last summer and moved to America, while Butler played for Dunfermline before his recent release.

Twice capped by the Republic of Ireland, Butler made 14 appearances in the Scottish Premier League this season. He appeared as a substitute when Sunderland beat Pool in the FA Cup last January.

He left Wearside last year, departing in acrimonious circumstances after 35 appearances in six years.

Cooper said: "He was back in Ireland and has been to a couple of clubs and we asked him if he wanted to come and train here.

"He did really well against Barnsley on Wednesday considering he is not match-fit.

"He will be a good addition and is totally different from anything we have in the squad already.

"The boys in the team can look around and know that there are some very good players waiting to take over if they slip-up."

With his squad boosted by the return from injury of Mark Tinkler, Chris Westwood, Hugh Robertson and Jack Ross, yesterday's double capture gives Neale Cooper plenty of options for the last nine League One games.

Tinkler had been out for four weeks after suffering a calf injury.

But his return, along with Westwood and Robertson, coincided with Pool's first win in four games last week when they triumphed 2-1 at Bradford.

With nine games remaining - Pool go to Blackpool on Easter Monday - Cooper's side could do with five more wins to secure a top six spot.

"Last week at Bradford was just the result we needed,'' said Tinkler. "It was a tough game, but we showed good spirit to dig in and come out with the result.

"I think we would have taken a draw just to end the run we have been on, but to go away with a win was tremendous.

"We've more points than we had at this stage of last season and we made the play-offs then. All we can concern ourselves with is getting enough points to make it again.

"Results went in our favour last week, so maybe four or five wins can be enough for us to get in there again.

"We started last week very well, created a lot of early chances and didn't start like a team who had just lost four on the bounce.''

He added: "It was nice to get straight back into the team after injury. A few of us came back together and I think it's important to have as many bodies as possible at this stage of the season.

"Everyone at the club will have a part to play.

"I was tired towards the end of last week's game. I was a bit tired and came off.

"They changed it around a bit and threw bodies up front, but we kept them out somehow. The back four were magnificent towards the end.''

* Pool have reached the last four of the Dallas Cup, after a 4-2 win over South California. James Brown scored a hat-trick as Pool finished top of Bracket A in the Supergroup. They face Mexican side Santos Laguna tonight.