SOME 16 years since they were team-mates at Nottingham Forest, Colin Cooper and Marlon Harewood were yesterday reunited at Hartlepool United.

After his recent release from Bristol City, Cooper moved to land the striker.

Harewood and Cooper only played together once at the City Ground, the young striker making his debut before the defender made his return to Middlesbrough.

But Cooper was at the club while Harewood was making an impression as a goalscorer of some youthful promise.

And, with his young Pools side in real need of some attacking experience, Cooper made his move.

“It is something I have been pursuing for a little while now,’’ Cooper told the club’s official website.

“I believe that Marlon is the right person at the right time for us.

“I have known him for a lot of years and I like him, first of all as a person. He has the right attitude, he has always been an extremely hard worker and he is a good person.

“I have known him since he was a kid coming through at Forest and one thing I know is that he has always and still does have that hunger to run, to bully defenders and to put them under pressure and, as his career suggests if you look back at the records, he can put the ball in the back of the net.

“All of these attributes point favourably to what we are looking for at this moment in time.

“He will also be a really positive role model and voice in the dressing room.

“I also believe that, even at 34, he has an awful lot to give on the pitch.’’ Harewood has played in the North-East before, scoring five times for Newcastle in a loan spell during their championship-winning season of 2009/10.

And the striker, with one goal for the Robins this season before being released by new boss Steve Cotterill can’t wait to get going.

“I have missed the game as soon as I came out of it so when Colin phoned me I felt like this was a great opportunity for me to get back in so I’m very excited about it,’’ he admitted.

“When he told me what he has in place here it really swung it for me and I was keen to be part of it and help him succeed in implementing his plans.

“I hope I am able to bring what Colin is looking for – the way he’s talking is that we just need that little bit of edge and when he says things like that it makes me excited and makes me want to do well.

“I’m looking forward to playing now, scoring some goals and helping the lads out with the hard work they’ve been putting in to the games.

He added: “Colin Cooper is one of the reasons I came here.

“He spoke about what he wants to achieve and hopefully I can help him do that.

“I looked up to him at Forest and for him to want me to come and help him at Hartlepool was a no brainer for me.’’