POSITIVE Hartlepool United boss Chris Turner last night saluted the midfield trio he believes is the best in the business.

Pool entertain fellow form side Blackpool at Victoria Park this afternoon, with Turner - who was yesterday presented with the Nationwide League January Division Three manager of the month award by MP Peter Mandelson - relishing the task ahead.

Turner's side go into the game on the back of a nine-game Division Three unbeaten run stretching back to November 25, and the Pool chief paid tribute to Tommy Miller, Paul Stephenson and Mark Tinkler, the threesome at the heart of his promotion push.

Miller has netted 13 times from midfield this season, Stephenson has carried on the form that made him player of the year last season and Tinkler has been in outstanding form since his switch from Southend last November.

"I think you would struggle to find a better three in this division,'' said Turner. "One scores lots of goals, one passes the ball with style and the other passes and tackles well. Tommy has the engine to get up and down and from box to box as well - it's a good mix.

"We want to be a hard team to beat and with those three in there we are a very hard team to break down. All three can play good football and get the ball down to pass it about, two have played at a higher level and there's no doubt Tommy will as well.''

Tinkler moved to Pool from Southend as the Roots Hall club looked to trim their wage bill and has been a revelation since his free transfer.

"We needed some strength in midfield and he has brought that,'' added Turner. "He is good in the tackle and wins headers in midfield that maybe we hadn't been doing as much of in the past.

"He has been great for us and Paul Stephenson does the same every game as well.''

Pool beat Steve McMahon's side at Bloomfield Road last September as the Tangerines struggled to find their feet after being relegated from Division Two.

Since then, they have made a push for the play-offs and sit one place and one point behind Pool in eighth spot after last week's 6-0 hammering of Scunthorpe.

"They will be full of confidence from last week. But there is no reason why they should be more confident than us,'' said Turner. "We've worked hard to get the pitch looking good and it all adds up to a good game.

"In games like this, it is important not to to be beaten by your rivals - the teams in and around your position. If you lose it gives the others that little advantage, but if we win it gives us the chance to pull away and open up a little bit of a gap.

"We are not expecting a game any harder than what we always get. Teams come here and treat us with respect now - the difference is that they will come here and attack us.

"We are hard to beat now and the teams coming here and fighting for their lives defend with everyone.

"They were relegated last season and Steve McMahon said they would win the league this season and no-one was better than them.

"But they were obviously a bit surprised by the division, it's not easy to get out of. They didn't have the greatest of starts, but now they have strung a few wins together they are right up there.''

Pool's sole defeat in 12 outings came in the LDV Vans Trophy at Lincoln ten days ago, but they put that to bed with a point at Shrewsbury last week and Turner said: "It was the same last season, the lads always come back after a bad result and a point away from home is always a good result.

"There will be a good atmosphere on Saturday and it's the sort of day you want at home and the sort of game you want to play in.

When I first arrived we played Scarborough and that was a massive game but for different reasons - we couldn't afford to lose that one.

"What I'm looking for is the likes of Miller, Stephenson and Kevin Henderson to show what they can do in the big games and be positive.''

McMahon paid tribute to Turner and said: "I've been impressed with the work Chris has done up there. His transformation of a relegation threatened team into promotion contenders in such a short space of time is an excellent achievement."

l There are no plans for a pitch inspection and the surface has been covered this week. But Whitley Bay referee David Laws could take an early look at the surface if the heavy rain and snow materialises.