AFTER an indifferent start to the season, Ritchie Jones admits a spell on the sidelines may have been the key to getting his campaign up and running.

Jones partnered Antony Sweeney in Pool">Hartlepool United’s central midfield for the opening games.

But the return to fitness of Ritchie Humphreys last month saw Jones axed by boss Chris Turner.

After five games out, however, he was back in the side at the expense of Sweeney.

And last week’s display at Swindon means he won’t be left out for this afternoon’s visit of Tranmere to Victoria Park.

Following a pre-season which saw Jones request a transfer from the club – a decision he soon realised was the wrong one – the ex-Manchester United man is now knuckling down and is desperate to keep his place in the team.

“It’s nice to play,’’ he admitted.

“But you’ve always got to be on your toes. If you have one bad game you might be out.

“It’s good we’ve got a strong squad of players so there’s people to step in when called upon.

“If you’re not playing, you’ve got to keep your head down and keep working hard in training.

“You’ve got to be professional.

The lads who are playing are training well and everyone wants to play in the starting XI.

“Maybe I needed that break out of the team. Players sometimes need to step their game up but I’ve just tried to show it in training.

“It’s part of football, you’ve got to get used to the idea of playing in a squad.

“At the end of the day, the whole squad gets the results – people who aren’t in the team or who come off the bench.’’ Tranmere were one of the clubs chasing Jones’ signature in 2008 when he was allowed to leave Old Trafford.

Last weekend’s display set the standard for both Jones and Pools, as they seek to get their home form right.

Four away wins this season contrasts with a single victory at home and Jones, on the back of the 2-0 win at Swindon seven days ago, said: “Swindon hadn’t lost at home all season so it was really good for us.

“We’ve been doing well away from home and it was probably one of our best performances.

“It spurs us on to get another result against Tranmere after going two games unbeaten.

“Already this season, we’ve nearly won as many away from home as last season and if we keep picking points up at home then we should be all right.

“All the lads are as determined as ever to get the three points against Tranmere.

“Obviously John Barnes has just been sacked and they’ve not really got a manager.

“The caretaker manager will be trying to prove what he’s doing ism working, so it’s not going to be an easy game.

“In this division you’ve got Leeds and Charlton who are going to win the majority of games but the rest is just random.

On our day we’re a really good team and it sets up nicely for this game’’ Pools proved their value last week with another comprehensive away performance.

The hosts had not lost since the opening day of the season, but their 11-game run was easily ended by Jones and Co.

“It was a good result at Swindon,’’ Jones reflected.

“I think it was all down to hard work and everyone put everything into the game.

“We came out of the starting blocks really well and got into our opponents and it showed with us winning the second balls.

“There were a lot of men in the box on the counter-attacks and the delivery from out wide was really good.

That’s what we need.

“We were just really sharp early on and on top of them.

“It showed well in the end because we got the two goals and managed to win the game.

“It wasn’t going to be pretty in the second half with being two up at half-time.

“We had to sit back a little bit and they were going to pile pressure on. But the back four and goalkeeper were tremendous.’’