BEN CLARK has probably enjoyed better days, but the former Sunderland man is happy to be given the chance of regular first-team football.

Clark moved down the A19 to Hartlepool last week and had a baptism of fire as his new side went down 3-0 at Peterbrough.

He appeared as a second-half substitute in midfield, after Ritchie Humphreys was forced off following a clash of heads.

Cooper had spent over a month tracking the 21-year-old and Clark admitted: "I was glad to finally get the deal done and dusted but the result put a bit of a damper on my weekend.

"I didn't expect to be playing straightaway, I thought it would have been a case of sitting on the bench for my first game but obviously with the bad injury to Ritchie I got on. I felt I did as well as I could for the time I was on.

"I think we did alright, it was just three very good goals from Peterborough, which we will have to sit down and look at no doubt.

"Apart from that it was a nothing game to be fair and either side could have won it."

Clark has signed a three-year deal at Victoria Park and will play in Wednesday's reserve game with Bradford to build up his fitness.

"I have come here to play first team football but my first aim is obviously to get into the team and then stay there," he said.

"Obviously I want to be in there straightaway but that is up to the gaffer.

"I will be trying my hardest to impress him over the week and hopefully get my chance.

"That was only my fourth competitive game this season.

"I have had a couple of reserve games but it is not the same as playing in a first team.''

Clark is likely to start at centre-half when Pool take on Port Vale at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Micky Nelson is suspended after accumulating five bookings.

The defender last week handed in a transfer request, after his agent claimed Pool had not offered his client a new, improved deal after impressing last season.

Cooper refused to be drawn on the issue, only saying: "These things happen in football.''

But, privately, Pool are understood to be furious with the allegations made by Nelson's representative.

* Midfielder Ritchie Humphreys is a doubt for the weekend after suffering a facial injury on Saturday.

A clash of heads left Humphreys with a severe cut around his left eye socket and a badly bruised cheekbone.

"Thankfully, he's OK and didn't need to go to hospital, but it's a nasty cut,'' said Cooper.

"There was no concussion, but he might be struggling for the weekend's game.''

* Former Pool boss Chris Turner has been linked with a return to Victoria Park as part of the club's scouting network. Turner was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday last month.

Read more about Hartlepool here.