HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner could be handed a boost this week with influential skipper Michael Barron set to return to full training.
The 25-year-old centre-back has yet to figure this season after a troublesome knee injury.
Barron underwent an operation last month in a bid to cure it and has been in light training with the club's physio over the past ten days.
Boss Turner said last night he is hoping Barron could step up his fitness and training this week.
"I am hoping he will be able to start training with the first team this week," he said. "We have missed him since the start of the season and it will give everyone a lift when he comes back.
"Michael is a winner and we need him just like we need all our injured players back as quickly as possible."
Turner is confident Pool will be a different side once the likes of Barron and strikers Kevin Henderson and Anth Lormor return to action in the next month.
Both Henderson and Lormor are at least two weeks away from returns and it has left Pool under-strength as they bid to force their way up the third division table.
Turner admits Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Scunthorpe was disappointing, but added: "I know we will be a better side when we start getting something near our full-strength side and the injured players return.
"It has been frustrating and disappointing, but we have got to hang in there and keep going.
"We have to stay positive and not panic. I know we are not at our strongest, but I believe we will start to climb the league table again once we have people back. We made individual mistakes against Scunthorpe on Saturday and they punished us. We have to pick ourselves up now."
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