HUGH Robertson will today step up his return from injury, when he appears for Hartlepool United's second string.

After an hour's run out in last week's reserve defeat to Hull, the left back will start this afternoon's game with Preston.

Robertson, who has been sidelined by a foot injury, is likely to play the full game to build up his fitness.

Whether he forces his way into the first-team picture for Saturday's League One game with Bournemouth at Victoria Park remains to be seen, but boss Neale Cooper will be an interested spectator.

"Our set-piece delivery on Saturday was poor,'' he said. "Twice we had free-kicks in attacking positions and it ended with Sheffield Wednesday breaking out.

"That's where you miss the likes of Hugh and Gavin Strachan.''

Pool's youth team were last night knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at Barnsley.

Pool went down 2-1 at Oakwell and included David Foley, who was a substitute in Saturday's League One reverse at Hillsborough.

Paul Stephenson's team went a goal down when the defence failed to clear and Jarman rifled the ball home.

They should have levelled when Michael Maidens rose highest to head goalward - only to put his free effort over the top.

But they did when Maidens' excellent free kick crashed off the bar for Stephen Turnbull to nod home.

However, they were only level for five minutes as a 40-yard strike beat keeper Davison.

Pool: Davison, Muckles, White, P. Turnbull, Jones, Low, Robinson (Rae 67), S. Turnbull, Brown (Mason 86), Foley, Maidens.