HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner has tipped goal-hero Darrell Clarke to find the net more often.

The 24-year-old struck with just four minutes remaining to clinch victory over promoted Plymouth on Monday to keep Pool's faint play-off hopes alive.

The goal was only Clarke's fifth of the season - after initially struggling with injuries - and Turner expects to see his midfielder find his name on the scoresheet more.

The Pool manager, who signed the player from Mansfield last summer, 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, like we did against Plymouth.

"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.

"Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock told me after the match that he had told his players Darrell could not keep up the pace he was showing in the first half for the full 90.

"But Paul admitted that he got that wrong and Darrell popped up to score near the end."

Against the high-flying Pilgrims, manager Turner was forced to play Ritchie Humphreys alongside Clarke in the middle of midfield, due to Mark Tinkler (knee), Paul Stephenson (flu) and Tommy Widdrington (hamstring) both being injured.

And their exciting form has given their manager food for thought.

"The midfield of Darrell and Ritchie looked good and had plenty of legs," said Turner.

"We do have to start looking at next season now and it could be that we need more youthful legs in there."

* Pool's reserves take on Wigan this afternoon at Victoria Park (kick-off 2pm).

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