HARTLEPOOL United front-runner Kevin Henderson last night backed his partnership with Tony Lormor to flourish - kicking-off this afternoon at Mansfield.

Pool go to Field Mill with Lormor making a quick-fire return to his old club after his summer move and Henderson, who has netted three times this season, has every faith in their pairing.

Lormor's solitary goal in Pool colours came courtesy of a deflection in the disappointing 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Shrewsbury, but Henderson admitted: "We are starting to get more of an understanding and we showed it last week for 25 minutes - now it's just about doing it for 90.

"It's a different class playing with Tony, he talks to you and helps you through the game.

"Against Macclesfield, it was our best performance together as a pair and even though he has only scored once so far, it won't be long before we both start hitting the net - I just wish he could get the goals his hard work deserves.

"The manager has shown faith in us by not changing the team and now we have to repay him.''

And Henderson revealed the pair are starting to feel the benefits of hard work with wing-back Sam Shilton on the training ground.

"We've been working with him a lot and it is all about trying to know when he will knock it in. I have to get an understanding going with Tony and then we have to as a pair with Sam. Sometimes he knocks it in early and others he cuts back and goes the other way.

"We should have had a few more goals from his crosses and I think as a striker I could have had a few more goals this season with a bit of luck. I've got three which is nice, but now we hope Tony starts scoring - and once he gets one we will be away.''

After moving to Burnley from Northern League Morpeth, Henderson failed to make the starting line-up. But 14 substitute appearances gave him the taste for action and now finds himself at the top of the pecking order.

Last season he started the campaign as second fiddle to Gary Jones and Chris Freestone, but as the pair failed to hit it off, Henderson found himself more and more in the frame and knows the onus is now on him to perform.

"To be honest, it's easier to come on and run around for ten or 15 minutes - now it's about picking up the pace of the game from the start. If you come on and score then it's a bonus, but you are expected to get a goal when you're on from the start and that's can't always be the case - but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"At Burnley I never got a start, but the fans were great to me all the time. Even when we went back last month they were the same - but the gaffer (Stan Ternant) never spoke to me and that sums it up.''

Henderson leads the Pool line at Mansfield, looking to add to an impressive haul of seven points away from home - and put last week's injury time woe against Macclesfield behind them.

"Even though we lost two late goals, last week was a really good performance and everyone was really up for it," he added.