DARRELL Clarke is ready to play in any position just to help Hartlepool United's promotion bid.

The 24-year-old prefers a central midfield role but manager Chris Turner has also played him on the right.

Clarke, though, is willing to play his part in goal if that is what it takes for him to keep his place in Pool's battle to stay in the Third Division's top three.

The return of Paul Smith and Tommy Widdrington - who played 90 minutes for the reserves yesterday - from injury means competition for places across the midfield is about to hot-up.

And Clarke knows that Turner has a number of options, including changing his formation, for this Saturday's long trip to Torquay.

"I would rather play in centre-midfield but if the gaffer wants me to play out wide then I will," said the former Mansfield Town man. "I'll play anywhere.

"Tommy Widdrington will be fully fit soon, Ritchie can play in there as well.

"There are also other players who can, so we are well stocked for centre-midfield.

"But the gaffer also has the option of changing to a 3-5-2 because we have the players capable of playing either formation."

Striker Eifion Williams, who missed training on Tuesday and had a day off with the rest of the first team squad yesterday, is hoping to be fit for the clash with his old employers on Saturday.

The former Torquay man, who left Plainmoor in a £30,000 deal in March, had to be substituted with a hamstring injury early in the 2-0 defeat to Macclesfield.

And Clarke hopes the Welshman will make a quick return to action against the Gulls this weekend.

"It was a blow when Eifion went off early because he is a good, good player," said the busy schemer.

"To have a player of the quality of Eifion out is going to be a blow to any side, hopefully he will be all right."

Meanwhile, Pool reserves overcame Lincoln City's second string 2-1 at Seaham yesterday.

An Adam Boyd penalty after 54 minutes when Kevin Henderson was fouled in the area cancelled out Allan Pearce's opener for the visitors.

Then with six minutes to go Henderson finished off a low cross from Boyd to give Pool victory.

Read more about Hartlepool here.