MARK Robinson hopes he has consigned a personal nightmare to the memory bank.

A regular in last season's promotion-winning side, Robinson has had to look on from the sidelines this season after failing to impress new boss Neale Cooper.

But he revealed a pep-talk and a bout of hard work behind the scenes was the reason behind his return to the first team in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Wrexham which lifted Pool to fouth in Division Two.

"It was so nice to be back and involved in the first-team again,'' he said.

"Three weeks ago I was on the bench for the reserves at York.

"After that game I was told I had to knuckle down and start working harder in training.

"I was told that if I did then I would be given a fair chance and now I am back in the first-team.

"I've been working a lot harder - I've been told after training that was the case.

"Now I'm back in the side all I want to do is stay in it.''

Pool go to Bournemouth on Saturday and Robinson is likely to keep his place.

He added: "I played for the reserves at Boston last week at wing back - it's not my favourite position but I would play anywhere to get a game - and I ended up getting a goal as well.

"I know the manager wasn't there watching, but Paul Stephenson said I did well and that I could get my chance.

"We had a reserve game on Monday and when I wasn't involved in that then I knew I had a chance of being involved against Wrexham.

"After training on Tuesday morning, Scotty told me I was in because I deserved it after all the hard work I had put in.''

Cooper said: "I thought he was excellent on Tuesday.

"At the start of the season I didn't feel his attitude was right, but he was been doing the right things in training and deserved his chance.'' Pool's appeal to try to get Chris Westwood's red card from his dismissal against West Brom last week has been rejected.

He will miss next Friday's all-ticket game with Sheffield Wednesday at Victoria Park.

Marco Gabbiadini should be fit for Saturday's trip to Bournemouth after missing out on Tuesday with a thigh injury.

* Martin Scott's reserve side progressed to the second round of the League Cup yesterday with a 5-2 win over Bradford.

Pool went behind but goals from Jermaine Easter, Adam Boyd, Paul Arnison, Tony Sweeney and Matty Robson saw them through.

Read more about Hartlepool here.