AFTER being compared to one of Hartlepool United's greatest players when he arrived, Darrell Clarke had a lot to live up to when he moved to Victoria Park.

And now the hard-running midfielder is showing exactly why Chris Turner was quick to make his move when Tommy Miller departed for the Premiership last summer.

Clarke suffered a stop-start opening to his Pool career. A groin strain kept him out of the pre-season tour to Norway, a twisted back sidelined him for seven games and when he made Chris Turner's starting line-up on a regular basis it was in an unfamiliar right-wing role.

Clarke soon adapted to the wide position, but since moving into the middle he has came into his own, netting five goals in ten games, including his first League hat-trick in the 7-1 win over Swansea a fortnight ago.

He said: "I think the gaffer probably knows that playing in the middle is probably my best position, but when it comes to doing a job for the team, I'll play anywhere.''

Turner said: "Darrell had a difficult start to his time here with niggling injuries and we have played him in a couple of positions. We have played him at right-midfield and in the middle, which is his preferred position.

"He is more important in his middle role when we played a four in midfield. He nicks little balls off players and he closes players down - he really works hard.

"Darrell will score goals, there's no question about that and he can be a Tommy Miller in that respect.

And Turner revealed that Clarke's all-action displays had caught the eye of other managers. "When we played Plymouth their manager told me that he had told his players Darrell could not keep up the pace he was showing in the first half for the full 90," he said. "But Paul Sturrock admitted that he got that wrong and Darrell popped up to score near the end.''

Clarke's last-gasp goal against the Champions proved vital and the midfielder admitted putting together a five-game winning run was always within their capabilities.

"What happened at Exeter last week was fantastic, but if you look back at the last few games we have showed what we are capable of,'' he said. "But all that is behind us now and we haven't won promotion, but we are in the play-offs and if we look at is as a whole we are really disappointed.

"We were looking at the top three and automatic promotion. We finished seven points off third spot and remember we were bottom of the table after 16 games.

"Of course we are really happy to end in seventh place, but a little disappointed about not being higher. When we lost to Macclesfield, everybody's heads were down. We drew with Bristol Rovers and Lincoln and then lost to Macclesfield, obviously we needed a little bit of a miracle, but we have won the last five games and here we are.

"The pressure was off us when we went to Oxford, but we have never thought that we couldn't get in the play-offs. We got three points there and followed it up a couple of days later against Plymouth - then we started to believe it. To be honest, with five games to go the gaffer was saying we could win all five and we have proved a point. We have kept this run going and knew what we had to do at Exeter.''

Pool are expecting a packed Victoria Park this afternoon - Cheltenham's Rink End seats excepted - and after having the backing of 1,000 fans at Exeter last week, Clarke is hoping to repay the fans.

"They were superb last week and they deserve success,'' he added. "They have been behind us all season, even when we were bottom of the League we didn't feel under any pressure from them.

"They have made a big contribution to keep us all going.''

Cheltenham haven't won in six games, but Clarke warned: "They are a good side. They might have been down for a couple of days after missing out on promotion, but they will be fired-up for this.

"A lot of people would rather play away first-leg, but I would rather be at home where we can try and get a good advantage - even any advantage - to build our confidence up.''

And after his former teammates celebrated promotion last week when they pipped Cheltenham for third spot, Clarke wants to follow them to Division Two.

"I've spoken to the manager and the players and told them congratulations - and said hopefully we'll be joining them,'' he admitted. "They are a great set of lads and I was pleased for them. Hopefully I can go back next season with Pool - and get some more stick."

Read more about Hartlepool FC here.