PAUL Smith will today be handed the opportunity to stake his claim for a contract with Hartlepool United.

The 25-year-old former Burnley midfielder is on trial at Pool and will start for the reserves at Chesterfield this afternoon.

He was released from Turf Moor at the end of last season after making 112 appearances and netting five times for the Clarets, and he recently returned from a trial at Spanish Primera League side Oasasuna.

"He's shaped up well in training, but we need a look at him in competitive action,'' said Pool boss Chris Turner.

"He's played plenty of games for Burnley and he's certainly got something about him - he's got a great left foot.''

Turner made his players watch the video of Saturday's dismal home defeat to Oxford and said: "I think the players realised how lazy and lethargic they looked.''

Pool lost Micky Barron with a bug after 20 minutes on Saturday and the Pool boss also revealedPaul Arnison and Mark Tinkler were ill during the game.

Turner has defender Graeme Lee rated at 50-50 for Saturday's tough trip to Plymouth after he injured an ankle at the weekend.

"He went over on his ankle, it's not the first time he's done it and it is becoming a bit of a worry at times,'' said Turner.

Pool are already without midfielder Tommy Widdrington for the trip to Home Park as he serves a one game suspension for collecting five bookings this season. Tinkler misses next week's all-ticket home game with Hull for the same reason.

Pool last week had Norwegian striker Eivind Eriksen on trial, but the striker was forced to return home early after his daughter took ill. He played in Bodo/Glimt's final League game of the season on Sunday and could return to Pool in the near future.

The Pool boss is also keen on Bournemouth's on-loan striker Derek Holmes and is understood to have lodged a £20,000 bid with Ross County for the front man