PAUL MURRAY may only have been in charge of Hartlepool United for seven games, but he managed to get the best out of Marlon Harewood.

Where Colin Cooper failed, Murray succeeded. And, while the enigma that is Harewood may not have looked like an out and out goalscorer for either of the failed managers, at least his performances have improved.

Outcast for four games under caretaker boss Sam Collins, Harewood’s second-half display at Cambridge in Murray’s first game set the tone.

And, while it didn’t work out for Murray, it has for Harewood.

Now, under another boss, can Ronnie Moore take it on a stage further and get goals out of the one-time England hopeful?

Harewood will start at Mansfield today and Moore admitted: "Marlon is a bit stiff but he probably hasn't run about as much as he did the other day for a while.

"He is just feeling the aches and pains that you get when you are 35. At 35 you have to look after him.

"I will have a word with him that he doesn't have to train every day.

"As long as he can produce and perform that work ethic which goes with the strength that he has got then he is a handful against anybody at this level.

“Marlon has experience and he can help us. When you are 35, he’s done a lot of miles and knows the game inside out.

“He’s not an aggressive leader, some of the stuff he says is rubbish, but some is sensible and he does wind the opposition up – he can be a threat.

“If we can get some pace or someone to go alongside him or someone to put him under pressure.’’

With Moore lining up new signings to boost his squad in January, Moore added: “No-one has a place in the team cemented. I’ve only been here a few days and there’s no guarantees for everyone. If we can bring four in, we might have to ship some out.

“I’ve told the lads on loan it’s down to them – perform and do alright they could stay, but if they don’t then I get others in.’’

Pools will be up against a strong and direct Mansfield today. They are under a new manager in Adam Murray, but Moore expects a physical battle.

“The frailties in the squad are obvious, clear to all,’’ he admitted. “Anyone who knows football can see them and the worrying thing is that any team can get right on top of you.

“Mansfield are strong and we have to make sure we don’t fold like we did at Burton. It will be a different type of game, but if we wilted there then this is going to roll your sleeves up and battle. If you don’t it’s a struggle.

“I’ve come here to do a job and I’m here because they are bottom of the league. I’m here to put it right.’’

Today’s game is all-ticket. Pools have reduced admission to Sunday’s home game with Morecambe to £10 and, after an improved crowd for Moore’s opening game last weekend as new owners TMH took control, he was pleased with the reaction.

He said: “We’ve had fantastic support so far – they got behind the lads on Saturday when the players gave their all. That feel-good factor is there, so why they can’t go and perform on the back of that ....

“Hopefully we come home to the Morecambe game with three points, the crowd is bigger and noisier. They all want survival. We need to playing league football. Hartlepool United need to be playing in the Football League.

“If you shift down to the Conference it’s hard to get back – look at the teams down there. It’s not impossible, but we have to make sure as a group, and the group who come in to help us from January onwards, that we are good enough and strong enough to stay in the division.’’