JAMES Brown and Sam Collins return to the Hartlepool United this weekend.

The pair will both board the team bus this morning, as Pools head for tomorrow's game at Brentford, giving caretaker boss Micky Barron a welcome boost.

Barron, Pools first-team coach, was asked by chairman Ken Hodcroft to take charge on a temporary basis following the departure of Mick Wadsworth this week.

Skipper Collins, who will have a say in events this weekend as one of the camp's senior professionals, has missed the last four games with a calf strain.

Brown, who has been part of a patient build-up this season after constantly being dogged by injury in recent seasons, broke down in training on the same day as Collins.

He suffered a groin injury at a time when then-boss Wadsworth was pleased with his progress. That set him back a few weeks, but after a good week on the training ground, the attacker is back in contention.

There was little change in the bookies' odds in the market to find the next Pools boss yesterday.

Dave Penney remains favourite with John Hughes second in the list at 7/2 and ex-Pools striker Richard Barker, now boss at Bury, at 4/1.

Chairman Ken Hodcroft said at Wednesday's AGM that there would be no rushed decision, with the owners going through a stringent recruitment process.

Admission tomorrow, as part of an initiative by the home club, is £10 seating and £5 standing.