NATHAN Luscombe admits he was shamed into action in the summer - and, after knuckling down and losing weight, the Hartlepool United midfielder has vowed never to get in such a state again.

Freed by Sunderland last season, he was soon signed by Mick Wadsworth and given a fresh start.

But he returned for pre-season training looking, in his own words like a ‘sumo wrestler', which meant he spent the next few months desperately shedding the pounds.

"I've always said I was ashamed when I came back,'' he said. "I was embarrassed to see a photo in one of the papers and I could have been a sumo wrestler I was that big.

"It wasn't the fact I couldn't run but it took me longer to get in shape where I could be at my best.

"The staff weren't too happy with the shape I came back in and that's fair enough.

"I've been staying behind to extra work and even things like head tennis help get you in shape.''

Luscombe has started the last two games, his first starts in the Football League, and admitted his plans and agenda for next summer will be rather different to the last one.

"I went on holiday and thought I would be okay, because I was never that big when I came back previously,'' he said.

"If I just keep cracking on then hopefully around Christmas time I'll be down to my fighting weight and will be flying.

"And there's no way I'll be going wild next summer and I've got to repay the faith Hartlepool have shown in me.

"I can't come back the way I did last pre-season.

"I came back probably two stone overweight. I still want to lose a few more pounds and I can still get fitter.

"I'm able to run quickly and can get around but there are times when you think ‘I'm knackered here'.

"You've just got to limit your lifestyle - a treat for me now is a celery stick!

"But now I've got that motivation to stay in the team.

"In the summer it's too easy, you'll say ‘it's okay, I'll have a burger and watch the football'.''

Pools have lost their last three home games, the latest being Tuesday's to Tranmere and today take on leaders Charlton.

"It's a must-win game,'' admitted Luscombe. "We've under-performed the last two.

"We can't lose, that would mean two defeats on the bounce going away to Leyton Orient, which will be hard.

"The gaffer said he wanted at least six points from these three games and we've got three at Chesterfield so now we've got to win tomorrow.

"But it's the ideal game to raise ourselves for.

"We need to get the ball down, stop panicking and play like we know we can.

"But we need to get the basics right and then a bit of magic can win the game.''