HOME BOY Adam Boyd has had enough of the A1 and early mornings; Hartlepool United may be about to feel the benefit.

Boyd was shipped out on loan to Boston earlier this season, as boss Neale Cooper joined the list of managers left frustrated and bewildered by Boyd's failure to make an impression.

Hartlepool-born Boyd, a former pupil at Manor School of Technology, has flattered to deceive since scoring an injury time winner against Shrewsbury in February 2000.

But, after his emergence from the wilderness with two goals on his first start of the season in last week's win at Grimsby, Cooper hopes the real Adam Boyd is starting to emerge.

Pool meet struggling Brentford at Victoria Park today and the 21-year-old admitted: "I probably thought that was it for me with the club when I was at Boston.

"I went there on loan and I've been at Hartlepool a few years now. Boston wanted me to stay and Pool didn't put up much of a fight to be honest.

"But I'm pleased it didn't go through and I was delighted to get the chance to come back here.

"It's my hometown club, so it means a lot for me.''

Boyd, who will today make his first Victoria Park start in a Pool shirt since March 7 last year, added: "Going to Boston, I realised how professionally run Pool are, compared to the Third Division and a lot of the Second Division clubs as well.

"I was travelling down to Boston every day and I was having to leave home at half-past-six to get on the A1 then sit in traffic at Newark.

"I wouldn't say it was an eye-opener going there. I saw it as an opportunity to play first-team football. Maybe certain things were eye-opening for me, but I was playing regularly, which was good.''

Boyd shone in last week's victory, grabbing both goals in the 2-0 win which put Pool back in the play-off zone.

He will remain up front with Joel Porter today and said: "I have never played in conditions like that before - wind and then hailstones right in my face.

"But I enjoyed the game, came out with two goals and it was good.

"It's nice to be able to score for Hartlepool again. It looked like I didn't have a future here, but now I've scored twice and been involved again, which has been brilliant.

"It was a bit of a shock to start to be honest. I was involved against Stockport and got a chance when Tinks was injured. But he was fit for Grimsby and it was Icy who missed out and I stayed in.

"Icy is a cracking prospect, he's only 17 and I know there is more to come from him.''

Pool lost 4-1 at home to QPR a fortnight ago and drew with Stockport three days later.

Boyd said: "We watched a video of the QPR game before we played Stockport - just to give the lads a boost - and I was called into the 18 on duty.

"That, for me, was a step in the right direction because it meant I was involved on a match day. I was on the bench that night and I was happy just to be in the 18, never mind on the bench.

"To get a chance in the game before half-time was fantastic. I had over 45 minutes' action.''

The win at Grimsby put Pool at the head of the pack chasing the play-off zone.

Swindon, Brighton and Bristol City take up the other places, but fifth-placed Town have a six-point lead over Pool.

Pool are level on points with Luton, one ahead of both Port Vale and Bournemouth and a further three in front of Wrexham.

Boyd admitted: "We have everything play for now. We showed real spirit and heart to win at Grimsby last week.

"The conditions were awful, but we coped quite well.

"We're back at home next against Brentford and it's a long time since I played there, I just hope I have done enough to stay in.

"Brentford are at the bottom and fighting for their lives. Sometimes it's harder playing teams like that at the bottom than it is playing teams at the top.''

* HARTLEPOOL will today hold two separate periods of silence in memory of Frank Baggs and Harold Hornsey.

Baggs, the club's former commercial director, died last Friday and Hornsey, chairman between 1994 and 1997, passed away on Thursday.

Firstly, players, staff and fans will hold a minute's silence in tribute to Hornsey. Then, following a brief pause, a silence will take place in memory of Baggs.

The club is asking supporters to be in the ground by 2.50pm and an on-line book of condolence has been opened at www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk.

Skipper Micky Barron said: "It is really upsetting news.

"They were two people who put an enormous amount into this football club and for it to happen in such a short space of time is just really sad.''

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