HARTLEPOOL United can thank Mick McCarthy after Australian striker Joel Porter made an instant impression at Victoria Park.

Porter made his mark in Saturday's 2-0 win over Swindon, which lifted Pool into fifth spot in the table, winning an early penalty and causing problems for the visiting defence.

The Aussie international, with four goals in five games for the Socceroos, last week signed a short-term deal with Pool after two months on trial.

His bid to make his mark at Pool came after trials at both Sunderland and Wigan and Porter said: "I've always wanted to play here. Every week back home we watched the Premier League and took an interest in English football.

"Mick McCarthy actually put in a good word here and recommended me to Hartlepool. I think it came through Martin Scott's Sunderland links.

"I only found out on Friday that I was playing the next day. But I've been here a while and the boys at the club have been great to me.

"I was involved early on with the penalty and that put us in front. But in the second half we were under a lot of pressure and we defended really well.''

Porter, likened to Dean Saunders by Pool boss Neale Cooper, added: "We changed our shape a little bit in the second half and I played deeper, but we scored a fantastic goal to kill the game off. It was a great finish from Jack Wilkinson.

"The conditions were something else on Saturday - nothing like playing back home. We play our football in the summer so the temperatures are a little bit warmer than this.''

Cooper added: "I was very pleased with Joel. He did really well to win the penalty and worked really hard all day.''

* Pool hold their AGM this morning in the Victoria Lounge at 10am.

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