JAMES Brown may be back in action for Hartlepool United, but he needs to be nurtured and looked after carefully.

After suffering the trauma of two cruciate ligament injuries in recent seasons, the striker was out of action for three months of this campaign with an ankle injury.

He returned to the side in style with an impact in games against Brighton and Vauxhall Motors, but Mick Wadsworth is wary of heaping too much pressure on Brown.

He has completed 90 minutes once and his other nine outings since recovery have been carefully managed.

The weather conditions haven’t helped and, while Brown is expected to start up front against Dagenham and Redbridge today, Wadsworth said: “The difficulty with James, and for one or two players, is the training facilities have not been ideal for more than two months now.

“Even on Wednesday this week we were struggling because the pitches are quite hard still.

“They are in that stage between being hard and having standing water on them as well.

“The water can’t get away because there is frost underneath.

“So it’s really difficult. We are working on the 3G surface again, which doesn’t suit everybody.’’ He added: “The impact on there is much harder than it is on grass. With James, as has been the case with his last injury, it’s getting enough work into him through the week to maintain a high level of competitive fitness which is very important.

“We measure it and judge it, listen to the physio and medical department how much he can do on certain surfaces.

“That’s the reality. He is a talented boy and we do everything we can to get him out on the pitch.

“What was good against Oldham was he moved to the wing from up front and got us a goal.

“He didn’t score it but put in a great cross, which led to a goal, so we know James’ value.

“But there is more to it than the bits that you see on the pitch. It’s everything that happens at the training ground.

“I have to make a team decision and it’s based on many things.

“Like Vince Lombardi said: ‘Plan the work and then work the plan’.”

Captain Sam Collins remains on the injured list and Wadsworth said: “He is not going to be ready for Saturday or Tuesday at Bristol Rovers.

“A realistic date is a week on Saturday at Peterborough so that’s what we are looking at.”

One of his players on the verge of a return is Scott Flinders. The goalkeeper hasrecovered from a thumb ligament injury and played an hour for the reserves on Tuesday.

Wadsworth added: “Scott is doing really well. He is lacking match practice and will be the first to admit that.

“Jake Kean will continue on Saturday and probably until the end of his loan next month.

“That’s good for us because it gives Scott and Andy Rafferty time to get the work done, work with Gary Walsh and hopefully get a couple of reserve games in.

“In that sense we are quite comfortable.

“Jake knows the situation and will go back all being well at the end of this loan spell.

He has been fantastic for us.”