HE only has two brief substitute outings to his name of late after an all-too-familiar injury problem, but Mick Wadsworth is sure James Brown is ready to get his career back on form.

The talented Hartlepool United attacker has spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch during his burgeoning career.

Even this season, after what he hoped would be a full pre-season programme, the niggles returned to keep him out.

But he appeared during the second half of each of the last two games against Chesterfield and Tranmere and is expected to stay in the first-team squad after a concerted effort to keep him on track.

Two cruciate knee ligament repair jobs were needed before he had really made his mark, with his progress ultimately hindered.

Even last season he only managed two goals, winners at both Vauxhall Motors and Bournemouth, as he fleeted with regular football.

The 24-year-old has made 180 appearances all in since his debut on the final day of the 2005/6 season and now Wadsworth hopes he can finally push on.

Both Gateshead and Darlington were keen on loan deals, but the Tynesider is going nowhere. "James Brown came on the other night in a game which was a good one to come into,'' he said.

"The team was doing badly and we wanted an impact.

"That's when you need a sub to change the game. He played in the reserves on Wednesday for an hour and he is getting there. With James it's been a real slow burner in approach to getting him ready.

"He has had so many problems and hiccups, relapses which led to one problem after another last year.''

He added: "We took a very conscious decision to build up him aerobically. We cut down on the weights and tried to get his general aerobic fitness good before pacing him through the opening months of the season which is what we have done.

"Now he is ready to play 90 minutes and last year you couldn't say that.

"Last year he hardly trained two days on the bounce and now he's in every day. But that's the thing and we think we are getting there.''