PAUL Stephenson has praised his new look central midfield partnership.

Lee Bullock and Stephen Turnbull had rarely featured this season under the former manager, but have been in fine form in their last two performances under the new boss.

They started the draw at Tranmere a fortnight ago and stayed in the side for the weekend's draw with Doncaster, when they were dominant in the first-half of the wind-affected game.

Turnbull has been a regular in Stephenson's youth side before the coach was appointed temporary first-team manager, while Bullock moved to the club in the summer from Cardiff.

They are likely to carry on for the game at Scunthorpe on Saturday and Stephenson said: "They ran the show in the first half against Doncaster and it was disappointing the conditions meant the game was changed around in the second half, because we were well on top.

"In the second half we couldn't get up the pitch and found it hard to get anything forward going.

"But Bully showed what a good player he is, I thought he really did well and did the things I asked him to do. He won his tackles, won his headers and made some good passes from the middle.

"Young Stephen is probably a more astute passer of the ball and that's what I'd like to see Lee do more of, I'd like to help him in that - passes around the corners and getting the ball into the striker's feet.

"I thought the pair of them worked hard and we've some good options coming back from injury in the coming weeks.''

And another player to return to the fold, striker Adam Boyd, scored Pool's goal against Rovers.

After a season ravaged by injury, Boyd, who netted 29 goals last season, has started the last three games.

Stephenson said: "I fancied Adam to score, he has looked that little bit sharper mentally and physically in training last week.

"You can see he is getting there and I think the two games against Chesterfield and Tranmere have done him the world of good.

"He will be a big player for us in the coming weeks. His goal came from nothing, it was a great first touch and then put away - he always seems to score quality goals.''

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