TONY LEE is well-placed to judge how well Hartlepool United have done this season, and even better placed to pass comment on two of Pool's biggest successes.

The Spennymoor boss has been a regular at Victoria Park throughout the last eight years as his son Graeme became a mainstay in the Pool side.

So when Spike headed for Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, Lee knew Micky Nelson would be a more than adequate replacement.

And he could be forgiven for saying "I told you so" after goalkeeper Jim Provett impressed after replacing Anthony Williams at the start of the season.

Evergreen Lee, a stalwart of the North-East non-league scene, had Nelson under his wing at Bishop Auckland, and Provett had a loan spell at Spennymoor under Lee's tutelage.

The pair will be part of the Pool side at Notts County today, knowing three points could see them leap into third place and Lee isn't surprised to see Pool doing well in Division Two.

He has nothing but praise for the duo, admitting: "I signed Nelse for Bishops from Spennymoor for a small fee. I'd watched him play and liked the look of him. He was very raw, but had something about him.

"He was at Portsmouth as a kid and after he was released he was at Pools on trial a few times. They didn't fancy him for one reason or another, but he always had that hunger to get back into the game. I'm not surprised at all how well he has done.

"As a young lad he always had potential and at times he probably wanted to get back into the professional game too much.

"His biggest problem for me was over-confidence. He would start doing silly things in dangerous areas when he was on top of his game - Cruyff turns and spraying 40-yard balls around the pitch, which could be costly.

"But when he is focused and attacks the ball and defends like he can, there's not many better and he's a cracking lad as well. He's as ferocious on the pitch as he is quiet off it.

"He was at Hartlepool two or three times on trial, but he needed building up - he was very tall and skinny. But the last two years he has worked hard on his body strength and has toughened up.''

While Chris Turner's Pool didn't want the defender, plenty of others did. A move to Bury followed and last season he swept the board at their player of the year awards.

"He was starting to attract a lot of attention. He was so keen to come back into the big time, he signed for Bury - the first team to come in for him.

"Andy Preece was always on the phone and I got a phone call from Mrs Neville - Gary and Phil's mam - saying he wanted both Nelse and Danny Mellanby and they were giving me seven days' notice, which they didn't even have to do. Danny was already going to Darlington and I got nothing for Micky.''

And when Graeme left Victoria Park in the summer, Tony knew there was only one man who could fill his boots.

"He was the ideal replacement wasn't he?'' said Lee. "He has done very, very well and I am so pleased for him and everyone at Pools. I think it helps him playing with Chris Westwood because he is so consistent."

Provett ousted Williams just two games into the season and produced his finest show to date last week against Wycombe.

Just 20, Provett's performances have defied his inexperience and Lee feels a spell at Spennymoor was the making of him.

"I told Chris Turner this time last year that he should be in goal and I couldn't believe he didn't get a chance last season,'' he admitted.

Striker Kevin Henderson yesterday turned his loan deal at Carlisle into a permanent one, signing a contract until the end of next season. He has played five times on loan, netting once.

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