PREMIERSHIP giants Chelsea and high-flying Ipswich are the latest to check on the talents of free-scoring Hartlepool United midfielder Tommy Miller.

The 22-year-old netted 16 times last season and took his tally for the current campaign to 13 with a penalty in Tuesday's comfortable 3-1 win over Doncaster in the LDV Vans Trophy at Victoria Park.

And looking on were representatives from the Premiership duo as well as Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson and a clutch of scouts from top flight clubs on both sides of the Border.

Forest boss David Platt is a member of the Miller fan club and has personally checked on the Shotton-born ace, but funds are short at the City Ground and the former England midfielder is set to spend his war chest on Ipswich striker David Johnson.

New Barnsley boss Nigel Spackman is another well aware of Miller's talents after tracking the players' progress during his spell as Sky Sports pundit and Spackman's former TV colleague Chris Kamara kicked off the New Year by labelling Miller, who started his career as a schoolboy at Ipswich, as one of the nation's finest talents.

After netting a brace in last weekend's win over Exeter, Pool manager Chris Turner said of Miller: "There cannot be a better goalscoring midfielder outside of the Premiership," and insisted he can play at a higher level - but added he was not looking to sell.

He said: "We are not looking to sell Tommy, but I cannot believe that people are not queuing up to put us to the test.''

Miller, however, is unfazed by the speculation and insisted: "As long as I keep scoring goals then people will take notice.''

Turner leads his side into action at Cheltenham on Saturday looking to equal a long-standing club record.

Pool have won six games on the bounce and are aiming for the seven-game winning streak of Gus McLean's promotion winning side of 1968 and Fred Westgarth's 1956 side.

"We have got two very hard games coming up,'' said Turner. "But we couldn't be going into the games any better prepared for it. Confidence is high, but that counts for nothing at three o'clock on Saturday.

"Cheltenham have a nice playing surface and there is no reason why we cannot get a good result there if we play like we are capable of.''

Turner, meanwhile, admitted that the LDV Vans Trophy has lost some of it's shine following the decision to move the final to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"The competition was good when it was a Wembley final,'' said the Pool chief after leading his side in the Northern area quarter-finals.

"It was a great opportunity for players to get to Wembley, but there's something lacking now.

"But it doesn't matter if it is the LDV Trophy, the Mickey Mouse Cup or whatever - we want to win every game. When we go out onto the pitch it doesn't matter what game it is, we go out to win - and that attitude breeds success."

"Doncaster gave us a hard game and it was a really good work out for the lads. We are showing now what a side we can really be.''

* Pool, meanwhile, are looking for fans to take part in the Football League 'Fans Feedback' Research Project. A dozen fans are needed for a panel that will discuss a range of issues affecting fans.

Any fans who would like to be considered for selection should contact the club on (01429) 272584, or by e-mail at infotreak of Gus McLean's prom