HARTLEPOOL United coach Colin West last night paid tribute to Chris Turner - and insisted Pool's upturn in fortunes is down to his former Sunderland teammate.

Since Turner was appointed Pool boss in February 1999, Turner has saved Pool from relegation and led the club into the play-offs last season.

And even though Pool bowed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle last week and face a tough test at Cardiff this afternoon, West told supporters: "This club is going places."

West teamed up with his former Roker Park and Sheffield Wednesday compatriot at Victoria Park 12 months ago and admitted: "Since I came here - and I'm not saying this is because of me - this club has gone forward under Chris Turner.

"The outlook of the whole club both on and off the pitch is more professional and the feedback we get from people within the game speaks volume for the club and for Chris.

"Over the years there has been pressure on the players at the club but last year the pressure was a different sort and there is a different sort of pressure here now.

"We reached the play-offs last season and now we have to build on that but it takes time.''

Pool are in mid-table but have been without key players in Graeme Lee, Micky Barron, Ian Clark and Kevin Henderson for long periods. While the latter trio are back in action, West, who has taken command at Victoria Park this week as Turner was away on family business in Sheffield, is not expecting to see Lee kick a ball this season after cruciate ligament surgery.

"We have been without some players all season and if you took players of that calibre out of any team, they would feel the effects," he said.

"Now they are all coming back to fitness it is healthy for everyone and can only be for the better.''

West saluted physio John Murray for his work in getting the players back to fitness.

"Micky and Ian Clark came back last week and they are really still going through a pre-season build-up because they have been out for so long. But John has worked well with them both and they were ready to come back.

"Micky is the type of player who gives great confidence to everyone around him. He hasn't a wealth of experience in terms of games played and age, but he is a natural leader.

"It's comforting for the other defenders to have him around - he talks to them and squeezes the play.''

Barron is likely to keep his place in the back line which means Steve Baker can only hope for a place on the bench at best before his second month's loan from Middlesbrough expires.

Pool also have new recruit Mark Tinkler back in the squad after he missed out last week at Scunthorpe through suspension.

"It's good to have Mark back - he is a good competitor,'' said West. "Maybe in hindsight, if we had known he was on four bookings, we could have taken him off before he was booked.

"He gives other players such as Paul Stephenson and Tommy Miller a bit of freedom to roam.

"He is an excellent passer of the ball and is a strong character - exactly the sort we will need at Cardiff. Going back to how far the club has come on, it shows when we can sign someone like Mark.

"He was a regular at Southend and wasn't looking to get away but still wanted to come here when he had the chance.''

Cardiff last week turned on the style in front of the Sky Sports cameras with a thumping 5-1 FA Cup win over Bristol Rovers, and West admitted: "They are flying at the moment and it will be tough. I watched them last week and they are a strong side.

"But we will go with a positive attitude.

"They are doing well this season but we are not that far behind them and three points will close the gap.''