HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner is hoping a return to his Roots will prove a promotion spur for Mark Tinkler.

Pool are at Southend this afternoon, with midfield enforcer Tinkler back at Roots Hall for the first time since his free transfer move to Victoria Park last November.

The former Leeds midfielder returned to the North-East as Southend looked to trim their wage bill and has lost just twice in 22 outings in a blue and white shirt as Pool have risen to fourth position.

Tinkler has just served a two-game suspension after accumulating ten bookings this season and after an indifferent team performance on his return against Halifax last week, Turner believes an impressive show from Tinkler could be the key to promotion.

Pool have five games left after this afternoon's encounter and Turner said: "Hopefully this game will spark Mark back into action. For a few weeks he has been playing on a knife-edge with a suspension hanging over him.

"He has just had a two-game ban and when he came back the team wasn't at its best against Halifax and he wasn't either. Hopefully this will spark him up for the last leg.''

Turner last week cited uncertainty over the end-of-season run-in as a factor in the disappointing display.

Pool are comfortable in fourth spot, but don't know if that will be enough for an automatic promotion spot until the Football League hold an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities at Chesterfield next week.

The Third Division leaders face a Football League tribunal on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Hillsborough to answer the charges.

If found guilty, they could be relegated to the Conference, prevented from winning promotion or - the most likely outcome - be deducted points.

The other option is to be hit with a fine, but if officials decide on either of the first three options, then the door to Division Two should be open for Pool if they can stay in fourth spot.

Turner said: "It is something we are trying to play down. A lot of people are saying they are not going to be allowed to be promoted and we could be in an automatic spot.

"Hopefully this time next week we will know where we stand and then the picture will be clearer for everyone. It should take some of the pressure off the players when we know.''

Pool are enjoying the longest unbeaten stretch in English football this season and as they look to make it 22 games without defeat, Turner said: "I think we were a bit tense last week, but hopefully we can put on a performance like we did at Plymouth.

"We have been on a tremendous run and it would be nice to get to the end of the season without losing again, but I honestly don't mind as long as we get promoted.

"I don't think this club record will ever be equalled or beaten for something like 50 years, it is such a long stretch of games.

"We have just got to keep it going and if we win three or four of these last few games there is a chance we could be promoted.

"This is a new scenario for the club and a lot of the players and hopefully they will take it all calmly and keep things going.''

Southend have slipped out of the play-off frame in recent weeks and Turner admitted: "It will be tough for them to get back in there now because teams are winning games all the time. But they have a good record at home and we know it will be a tough test.''

Shrimpers boss David Webb knows his side must get the better of Pool's midfield - already billed by Turner as the best in the division, if they are to succeed today.

"Paul Stephenson is the player who makes Hartlepool's midfield tick," he said.

"They've got our old player Mark Tinkler, as well as young Tommy Miller, who scores goals for fun, but Paul gives them that vital blend of youth and experience."

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