Ritchie Humphreys has been praised by his Hartlepool United manager, Chris Turner, for his impressive displays in a number of positions this season.

Turner is convinced Humphreys still has a lot more to offer and the boss has tipped his player to finish the season in style.

Pool play the first of two derbies tomorrow when they travel to York City, and the playmaker will take up his position in the middle of midfield alongside Mark Tinkler.

When Tommy Widdrington hobbled off against Scunthorpe United on January 29, Humphreys was withdrawn from his centre-forward role and he has not looked out of place since.

Turner has been delighted with how Humphreys, a free signing from Cambridge United in the summer, has adapted to being pushed back.

"In the modern game we have got to be looking for players who are athletic and Ritchie is that," said Turner.

"He has got an abundance of skill and he very few can manipulate a football like him.

"At 24, Ritchie is still young and he will get even better. He's a tremendous footballer.

"His versatility is also a great bonus for us because he can play on the left, if we need him to, and he can play in the middle, like he is at the moment, or up front."

Meanwhile, top-scorer Gordon Watson could be back in action within two weeks after making a quicker recovery from knee surgery than expected.

* Pool have taken Reading's Northern Ireland schoolboy international Declan O'Hara on a week's trial. The central defender will play in next Wednesday's Reserve fixture at Notts County.

Read more about Hartlepool here.