NEALE Cooper believes Joel Porter is finally showing the consistency he demands.

Hartlepool United's Australian striker netted his seventh goal of the season in the win over Stockport on Saturday.

And, after taking time to adapt to the English game, Cooper believes the Socceroo international is playing with a spring in his step.

"I was delighted for Joel, who for me was man of the match. He deserved his goal,'' said Cooper.

"After we lost at Oldham the other week, we said he had to work harder if he lost the ball or didn't have it and he is doing that now.

"He has been running at people strongly and his touch, playing other people in, was very good.

"The Stockport defenders didn't know what to do with him and it was a very good performance from him.

"We are finally starting to get some consistency from Joel. In the last few games and in training he has lasted and looked stronger.

"In the past, he has faded a bit towards the end of games and I've had to take him off, but he is stronger.''

Porter's goal put the seal on the win, but Cooper admitted Pool were disappointed with their first-half performance against League One's bottom side.

He said: "We stood off them too much in the first-half, they were playing passes around us. Pressure and closing down is a big part of our game.

"But we turned it around quickly after going a goal down and got a bit sharper. Our football got better. We did have a few chances early on, but didn't take them.

"I just thought we were too far off them and at half-time we said we had to get closer and move the ball quicker.

"We needed to press their defenders further back and we picked the game up.''

Skipper Micky Barron will undergo surgery this week to discover the extent of knee damage and Cooper also lost Ben Clark through injury on Saturday.

He said: "Ben took a knock on the back of his ankle which was really swollen and then he went over on it as well, so it was a double. He's had it iced and we can just wait and see what it is like on Monday now - hopefully it's just a knock.

"Gavin (Strachan) had to come off because he was feeling his groin, but it's nothing major. He should be OK.''

Midfielder Mark Tinkler replaced Clark in central defence and Cooper said: "He can play there no problem.

"Putting him in there was the only option I had after Ben's injury. Credit to him because he took a really bad knock - you should see the state of his leg - but he's a hard boy. His shins are a mess.

"He did really well at the back and can play there, no problem.''

l Tickets are on sale from the club for the England v Scotland Under-18 game at Victoria Park on Wednesday, December 22. They are £3 in advance or £5 on the day, concessions £1.

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