Humphreys returns to where it began

Humphreys is part of the Hartlepool United side desperately seeking an end to their pitiful run of away results.

Bringing an end to the stretch of six successive League One away defeats is paramount if Neale Cooper's side are to maintain a top-ten position.

They are three places and two points ahead of the team assembled by ex-Pool boss Chris Turner, but now under the control of Paul Sturrock after Turner was sacked in September.

Humphreys started his career in spectacular fashion in the blue and white of Wednesday, crashing three spectacular goals in four headline-grabbing appearances.

But in a further 63 games at Hillsborough, he was on the scoresheet only once.

The teenager, billed as the next big star, ended up at Hartlepool United.

For many, that has signalled the beginning of the end of a career; for Humphreys it was the start of the best period of his footballing life.

He recalled: "I made my debut for Wednesday when I was 17 and I started playing regularly when I was 18, then had a couple of years as sub - I made an early start in the game.

"But I've probably enjoyed it more in the last couple of years. It's been brilliant for me, starting a lot of games and being part of a successful squad and a club which is going in the right direction.

"Scoring three times in my first four games meant the press get on to things like that, but I don't think I was ever going to be the next big thing.

"It's hard when you are young to find that consistency you need to keep yourself in the first team, but now I've got older I've found it.''

And Humphreys, captain last week, after Jack Ross was preferred in defence to Micky Barron, added: "I'm looking forward to going back, it will be a different side to the one we played last year because they have made a lot of signings.

"They've got another new manager, so everyone will be trying to impress him now.

"We've won four games in a row, so everyone is confident. Our away form hasn't been the best this season, but we won away the other week, which has given us a lift.

"OK, it was at Carlisle, but it was still a win away from home and we have to start to put it right in the league now.

"It would only take a couple of results away from home and it would put us right up there.''

Of Pool's tally of 26 points - one point better off than they were at this stage of last season - 23 have come at home.

High time a Saturday night drive back up the A1 was a happy affair.

"Our home form is exceptional and a few points away from home would be great,'' he said.

"It's amazing to think where we could have been in the table if we had only won or drawn a couple of the games we have lost.

"We've got to improve our away form, but it's just as important to keep the home form going.

"We've had a couple of bad performances early on in the season, when we have been beaten quite heavily.

"But we've had performances when we have played quite well and have conceded goals at the wrong times. At Milton Keynes, we were the better team and then they scored a couple of quick goals.

"At Brentford, we were the better side and still lost.

"We have gave some decent performances away from home, but we have missed important players through injury at times and sometimes, like at Oldham, we have had to play a lot of young lads and away from home that can be tough.

"But now we have the chance to put it right because there is a lot of away games left. We know we have the players to win games away from home.''

The arrival of Ben Clark from Sunderland has coincided with Pool's impressive run of form.

He may revert to defence today after a cameo in midfield last Saturday and Humphreys admits the squad have quickly taken a shine to the former England youth skipper.

"He's a good footballer, very composed and has fitted in straight away with the lads,'' he said.

"We've a great bunch of lads here who take the Mickey straight away and he has settled in very quickly.

"I think he's enjoying it because he is playing first-team football andregular football which is maybe what he has missed.''

Cooper will renew rivalry with boss Sturrock. The pair were sparring partners in Scotland in the early 80s, as Cooper's Aberdeen and Sturrock's Dundee United temporarily broke the Old Firm dominance.

They also teamed up on a number of Scottish FA Coaching courses.

Sturrock got the better of Cooper last season, when his Plymouth side beat Pool 2-0 at Home Park.

"He is a nice man and a good laugh,'' he said. "He plays with a passion and they are a stuffy, hard-working side with decent players, if you let them play.''

Read more about Hartlepool here.