NEALE Cooper is being rewarded for putting his faith in Dimi Konstanopoulos.

The giant Greek goalkeeper has kept successive clean sheets for Hartlepool United after being given his chance to impress.

Boss Neale Cooper has dropped last season's player of the year, goalkeeper Jim Provett, to the bench after seeing his side concede too many goals away from home this season.

And Cooper, who will keep the former Greek under-21 shot-stopper in his side for Saturday's game with Doncaster, admitted: "Dimi has come on a lot in the last year he has been here.

"He didn't do badly when he came here, but he is a big, laid-back Greek - it's a different mentality to us. He took time to change and adapt to our way of football.

"But I just thought, after watching him in training lately, he has had that hunger about him.''

Konstantopoulos arrived in England last September on trial and gradually worked his way into Cooper's favour.

First he replaced Antony Williams as Provett's understudy and has now moved to the top of Cooper's goalkeeping list.

The Pool boss added: "Perhaps he didn't have that urgency about him when he arrived - but that's not a criticism, it's just the way he is. But you can see now that the defenders have confidence in him.

"He deserves a run in the team and he will get one.

"He did really well against both Port Vale and Carlisle, he has a real presence about him and his kicking has improved as well.''

Cooper this week signed winger Lewis Goburn on loan from Wolves and he appeared as a second-half substitute in Tuesday's win at Brunton Park.

"Lewis did well, but with players like that you have to give him the ball,'' said Cooper."

"When he gets the ball you can see his quality.

"He only came to us on the morning of the game when he met the lads.

"We have a great bunch of boys here and it didn't take him long to realise that because he was made to feel welcome straight away.''

Ritchie Humphreys went off with a dead leg on Tuesday but will be fit for Saturday's game, when he will make his 152nd consecutive Pool appearance.

Pool's reserves lost 1-0 to Tranmere Rovers yesterday. Steven Istead won Pool a penalty but Darren Craddock's spot-kick - the last action of the game - was saved.

l Darlington midfielder Stephen Thomas returns to training this morning, desperate to prove his fitness to manager David Hodgson.

Hodgson has allayed fears that the 25-year-old faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hernia problem, but Saturday's trip to Rushden & Diamonds may come too soon for the Hartlepool-born player.

Thomas was a virtual ever-present for Wrexham in the old Second Division last season, appearing in 39 of the Welshmen's 46 League games.

But since returning to the North-East, Thomas has been in and out of Hodgson's side because of injury.

"Stephen is about ready now and we will take a good look at him in training," said Hodgson.

"He has had a little bit of trouble with a hernia but it's not too serious."

Skipper Neil Maddison will be fit to make his 100th League appearance for Quakers at the weekend.

He has been carrying a slight Achilles problem and was substituted during Saturday's win over Wycombe as a precaution.

With Craig Liddle and Curtis Fleming close to first-team returns and winger Neil Wainwright now fully fit, Hodgson has a near full squad at his disposal ahead of come crucial games against Yeovil in the FA Cup on November 13, before travelling to promotion-chasing Swansea in a rearranged league game four days later.

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