HARTLEPOOL United manager Chris Turner last night revealed how he is convinced he has the strikers capable of terrorising Third Division defences this season.

As Turner prepares his players for the friendly with Berwick Rangers today, at Shielfield Park, he believes that summer signing Richie Humphreys is the final piece of his attacking jigsaw.

Humphreys joins forwards Kevin Henderson, Jermaine Easter and Anth Lormor at the club, and their boss admits that he is hoping that the fierce competition will steer his side to promotion.

"All four of them are jostling for the two places," said Turner. "and that can only be a good thing for all of them and the club.

"I will not be afraid to put any of them into the firing line because I know they are well capable of producing the goods.

"People will say that Kevin will be an automatic choice because he scored 18 league goals last season, but it is not like that.

"If he gets another 18 again this time around then tremendous and we will be hoping for the other lads up there to add to those.

"If all four can grab goals here and there then we should be in for a good season."

And Turner insists that the Victoria Park faithful will be impressed by what they see from ex-England under-21 man Humphreys.

"When he first burst on to the scene with Sheffield Wednesday as a raw 17-year-old he appeared to have a lot of ability but was a little overweight," said Turner who witnessed Humphreys play when Pool defeated the Owls 4-1 in July 1999.

"But he has worked very hard over the past few months and he has looked quite good and lean over pre-season for us. I'm sure he will be a vital part of our team this season.

"Lormor will fight as well, with his experienced head and his professionalism then he can be another great asset. He has come back this summer looking really fit and impressive."

And Turner also indicated that despite Easter's tender years the 2001-02 campaign could be a big year for the diminutive front-man.

"Jermaine will be playing in his first full season where he will be training day-to-day with professional footballers," he said.

"I know that he can offer the squad so much and perhaps possibly his greatest quality is his electrifying pace.

"I'm not going to put pressure on the lad and say he is going to set the world on fire, but he has a lot of potential. There are 46 league games, plus the cup competitions so we need to have all of the strikers playing well and competing."

All of the quartet will play a part against Berwick this afternoon as Turner aims to find his front pairing for the opening Third Division clash with Mansfield Town on August 11.

But there is no place in the 18-man squad for injured midfielder Darrell Clarke (thigh strain) and sore shins victim defender James Sharp. Both players are expected to be fit for the start of the new season.

* Pool boss Chris Turner is holding a question and answer session with fans at the Blackhall RAFA club on Wednesday night from 7.30. Admission is free.

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