NEALE Cooper isn't resting on his laurels at Hartlepool United.

Pool are Division Two's highest scorers after last week's 8-1 rout of Grimsby and are sitting comfortably in second spot. But Cooper, who took Ross County from the Highland League to the verge of the Scottish Premier League before taking over at Pool, has returned to his roots to take two strikers on trial.

Ian Murray and Mike McKenzie will shortly be joining Pool on trial from Highland League side Deveronvale. Last season they amassed 76 goals between them - Murray scoring 49 times and McKenzie 27.

Deveronvale are currently playing their way through the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Cup and the pair won't head south until their cup run is over. Tomorrow they meet Buckie Thistle in the quarter-finals.

Gregg Carroll, Deveronvale boss, said: "I have no problems with letting any of my players go out on trial with a full-time club, especially when the manager is Neale Cooper, someone I have a lot of respect for.''

Murray, 27, and brother of Reading winger Scott Murray - who moved from Bristol City for £500,000 in the summer - has netted eight times this season and said: "I have always dreamed of becoming a full-time player. I can't wait to go down to Hartlepool.''

Cooper, who in six-goal Paul Robinson has the highest scorer in Division Two as well as four-goal Marco Gabbiadini, said: "When they arrive they will be well-looked after."

* Tickets are on sale for Tuesday's Carling Cup clash with WBA at Victoria Park, but it is not an all-ticket game. The Sheffield Wednesday game on Friday, October 11 is all-ticket and they are on sale now.

The club hopes to have the video of last Friday's 8-1 win over Grimsby on sale in the club shop today.

Read more about Hartlepool here.