THREE years ago this week Gary Liddle made his Hartlepool United debut in a Carling Cup win over Burnley.

The sides meet at Victoria Park this evening after a week in which the opposition have beaten Manchester United and Everton in the Premier League.

For Liddle, his Pools career has this season returned to the place it all began – central defence.

After making his bow in the middle of the back four, the vast majority of his outings since have been in midfield.

This season, however, and Chris Turner sees the product of Middlesbrough’s Academy as a defender. His midfield days appear over.

The switch has paid dividend with a string of solid displays in the heart of the rearguard.

“Obviously I went in there at first in pre-season because of injuries to Ben Clark and Ritchie Humphreys,’’ he admitted.

“But I’m enjoying it. It helps playing with an experienced lad like Sam (Collins) playing alongside you and then Stevie (Haslam) on the other side.

“We’ve got a few clean sheets away from home and we’ll be looking to build on that for the upcoming games.

“If it keeps me in the side, I’m happy playing there. It’s nothing new to me.

“There’s a lot of competition in midfield and if Chris sees me as a centre-half, I’m happy to stay there.

“I had a chat with Chris and we agreed that last year didn’t go as well as planned for me.

“I guess this year is a season for me to get back to my best and stay in the team and put in performances that can get us clean sheets.’’ Pools beat West Brom in the Carling Cup at Victoria Park a year ago.

And, with Burnley set to make plenty of changes to their team, Liddle admitted: “We had a taste of the cup games last year with the Stokes and West Hams.

“We did well in them and made a good name for ourselves.

It will be a test but one we’ll relish.

“I made my debut against Burnley three years ago when we won 1-0. If we can match that result it will be good.’’ Owen Coyle’s side last season reached the semi-final of the competiton, but faced with Pools just 48 hours after a Premier League meeting with Everton, or pushing the game back another day and reducing preparation time for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, Coyle went for the former option.

It means the likes of Chris Eagles and Steve Thompson will get their chance to impress.

‘‘The lads who play are all bona fide first-team players who will have a big part to play as the season goes on,’’ said Coyle.

‘‘Part of the reason we have done so well over the last two games is how hard the other lads have been working on the training ground. They are pushing the ones who had the jerseys.

‘‘It is frustrating to sit on the bench but we need to get some fresh legs into the team now so these lads will get their chance.

‘‘And the changes do not mean we are showing Hartlepool a lack of respect. We know exactly how tough this game will be.’’ Midfielder Ritchie Jones will be out for three weeks after breaking a bone in a hand in Saturday’s win at Gillingham.

Colin Larkin will be among the substitutes tonight after returning to training.

Pools: Flinders; Haslam, Liddle, Collins, Hartley; McSweeney, Sweeney, Fredriksen, Monkhouse; Behan, Brown.