BEING on the sidelines has been a strange experience for Mark Robinson over the last two months.

A regular in the Hartlepool United line-up this season, Robinson had missed just one League game before Brian Barry-Murphy arrived on loan in November.

And now the loan signing has gone back to Preston, Robinson is hoping he's done enough to impress Mike Newell and be part of the Pool success story.

Newell has promised to give everyone a chance to stake their claim for a place.

Jon Bass could keep his place after his best display in a Pool shirt against Carlisle on New Year's Day and now Robinson is desperate to stay in the side at Boston this afternoon.

"Against Exeter, Colin (West) told me I wasn't in and I haven't been involved since. I was really down when I was left out - it was hard to take after playing so much,'' he confessed.

"Mike Newell came in and said he would give all the lads a chance. He hadn't even seen me play and my opportunity has come a bit late, but now I just hope I've done enough to impress him.

"We have only had two reserve games and the gaffer had a bit of a go at me after the game at Scunthorpe. He said I needed to do a bit more and he wasn't too happy, so I've tried to pick things up in training and he's seen that and now I've been given a chance.

After Murphy returned to Division One with Preston, Robinson admitted: "Brian was a top man when he was here. We tried to encourage each other and I hope he does well at Preston. I got a text message on New Year's Eve to say he had gone back, but I thought he was going to stay for another month.

"I got a phone call from the gaffer before the Cambridge game at 5 o'clock and I was supposed to be training at 11 on Saturday, but he told me I was in the squad because Chris Westwood was struggling with injury.

"I prepared myself and had an early night and when I was told I wasn't in I was a bit gutted because I wasn't even on the bench. James Sharp was sub and I wondered if I would play against Carlisle because he could play at left-back."

After such a barren spell, Robinson then played two full games in three days.

First up was a reserve team friendly with Leeds, followed by the win over Carlisle 48 hours later.

"I thought I did well against Carlisle and we won, so hopefully I've done enough to stay in. I put the cross over for the second goal as well which made my day.

After Robinson and Bass impressed against Carlisle, Jermaine Easter was also given a rare run out on New Year's Day, coming on as a substitute.

Boston have moved out of the relegation places in recent weeks, helped by the loan signing of striker Richard Naylor from Ipswich.

Pool set off for Lincolnshire yesterday and fans are advised to check with Boston before travelling.

No pitch inspection is planned, but overnight rain or snow will put the game is jeopardy.

Read more about Hartlepool here.