TIM SPERREVIK may have played his way into a Hartlepool United return on Saturday.

The striker, signed from Fana 12 months ago, but sent back to his former club for a summer-long loan, showed why Chris Turner was prepared to take a gamble on the front man.

After losing his place in the Pool squad as he struggled to adapt to the demands of the English game, Sperrevik was loaned to Fana to build up his fitness and confidence.

He might have lost his number ten shirt as the squad numbers were issued last week, but his showing in the 1-1 draw indicated there is potential that could be fulfilled in England.

The giant front man gave his side the lead two minutes after the break, cooly netting past the advaning Anthony Williams as he homed in on goal.

Anth Lormor headed Pool level, but before being replaced in the closing stages Sperrevik managed to give the Pool defence some uncomfortable momets.

Fana - who also fielded former Pool defender Rune Vindheim - gave Pool the toughest game of their pre-season campaign to date as the side, fifth in the Norwegian second division, looked to repeat their 3-0 win over a physically draine Pool side a year ago.

Pool should have taken the honours as Kevin Henderson tamely pushed a spot kick wide of the mark and they found home keeper Tony Drange on form.

There was an injury scare for Turner as home-grown midfielder Brian Ros was carried off with a suspected twisted knee in the first-half and he will be missing from tonight's game with Brann Bergen.

"I thought Tim played well,'' admitted Turner, who yesterday took his squad to Brann's Elite League clash with Tromso. "That's the way he played against us last year, he caused a few roblems and it was a good workout for us. The result doesn't matter so much, we had the chances to win and missed a penalty as well.

"The main thing is about playing a competitive game and this was very, very compettive. You want to work players to the maximum and we did.

"I think you could see the difference in class in the teams, but it is another game along the way and that is what is important. I think we got more out of t than last year and we had good movement and knocked the ball around well.''

Turner fielded a 4-3-3- line-up, but said: "It was more to give everyone a run out than aything else. You can't have some players playing in every game we have because of the danger of fatigue. Some players have got 90 minutes and those who didn't play will against Brann.''

It took only seconds for the three-pronged attack of enderson, Lormor and Ritchie Humphries to create the first opening when Henderson closed in on goal only to be denied by Drange.

Sperrevik twice missed the target from long range after getting the better of the advancing Martin Hollund andPool's biggest scare came when Roy Andersen struck the post from 15 yards.

After Sperrevik netted, Henderson's tame penalty looks to have ended his hopes of replacing Tommy Miller as Pool's spot-kick expert.

Lormo headed in only to be ruled out for offside, Henderson clipped the bar and had a chance knocked off the line and Ian Clark hit the woodwork direct from a corner, but Lormor's second goal in as many pre-season games plled Pool level. Pool: Hollund (Williams 45); Robinson, Lee, Simms, Arnison; Boyd (Westwood 85), Ross (Barron 22), Clarke (Clark 45); Lormor, Hnderson (Easter 70), Humphries.

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