GARY Liddle admits to being rejuvenated by a return to midfield.

After spending an impressive season in central defence last campaign, Liddle has reverted back to the role he spent the vast majority of his time since signing for Hartlepool United in 2006.

And, in his third game there in a week, he even capped it off with a late goal to secure a 2-0 win over Peterborough.

“The move into midfield has probably freshened me up. It’s nothing new to me obviously, I’ve probably played over 200 games in centre midfield,’’ he said.

“It wasn’t like it was a transition thing to go in there but Mick knows what I give to the team, energy and getting myself forward and with the experience of playing at centre back it maybe gives me a licence to sit in front of the back four with Paul Murray and break things up.’’ And Liddle admits he has been as guilty as anyone in Pools poor home form this season.

Saturday was their first clean sheet in League One at home at the sixth attempt and only their second win.

“We watched a DVD last week and it pointed out all of the home goals and they were down to individual mistakes,’’ he said.

“I put my hand up and said I’d made a few and there was obviously a few other lads who put their hand up as well.

“It obviously needed a change at home and it has proved to be the better for it.’’ Liddle’s goal capped a solid display at the weekend and he admitted “I haven’t scored many 25-yarders – it was just a pot shot if you like and a great lay-off by Armann Bjornsson.

“With a couple of minutes to go I just thought ‘why not’?

Luckily it bounced in the corner and I felt about 15 bodies on top of me after that.

“I hope we’ve turned the corner now. We keep clean sheets away and we should be able to do it at home.

“We’ve set our stall out in the last few games and since Peter Hartley came in he has helped steady the ship.’’ Pools have been drawn to face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the quarterfinal of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, to be played week commencing November 8.