CHRIS TURNER admits Hartlepool United face an unenviable task this summer, when, as expected, Joel Porter departs.

The Australian has 23 goals to his name this season – his best return in five seasons at Victoria Park – but is expected to complete a free transfer to Gold Coast United once Pools’ season ends at Bristol Rovers a week on Saturday.

The Australian A-League side are in training ahead of their inaugural season, which starts on August 8.

But while Porter will be lining up with his new teammates, Turner will be left to try and find a striker capable of making a similar impact.

“Joel Porter –it’s well documented – has done fantastically well at Hartlepool,” said Turner. “In the play-off season (of 2004/5) he fired the goals with Adam Boyd alongside him.

“With him going back, we have not had anything along those lines, but I hear unofficially he is returning to Australia and he is looking after his future.

“I have sat down and spoke with him. He knows my feelings on the situation and all credit to him because he has been outstanding “If he does leave it’s going to be a very difficult task to replace someone who will hopefully score 25 goals this season.’’ Porter, meanwhile, is targeting League One safety in what should be his final appearance in front of the Victoria Park crowd against Leeds on Saturday.

“It’s a great game and we’ll be right up for it,’’ he said. “It’s been a while since we’ve had back-to-back wins so we’ll be looking to do that.

“Leeds is a big game anyway and we didn’t need to be three points less and playing them to win.

“A little bit of pressure is off so we are looking forward to it now. We seem to play better against the bigger teams anyway so we’ll play some good football at the Vic.

“Mentally we need to be right on our game to get something from it.”

■ Pools reserves end their season against Bradford City at Billingham Town this afternoon (2pm).