COLIN COOPER has tipped Michael Woods to be a success in a Hartlepool United shirt – and expects the summer addition from Harrogate Town to progress to a level way beyond League Two.

Having been an unused substitute in last weekend’s win over Shrewsbury Town, Woods pushed his first-team credentials when he scored a hat-trick in the midweek reserves win over Burton Albion.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed an up-and-down career to date, with his two FA Cup appearances as a Chelsea junior proving a precursor to subsequent spells at Notts County, Yeovil, Doncaster and Harrogate.

He moved to Pools in the summer, and while Cooper is expected to start with last weekend’s starting line-up when his side entertain Tranmere Rovers this afternoon, Woods has clearly pushed himself to the forefront of his thoughts.

“I brought Michael in and I know he can score from a midfield role or an advanced midfield role,” said Cooper. “He has proved so for the reserves, where we’ve been seeing him play a little more advanced, if not off a striker then in behind and making intelligent runs, and finishing well.

“I know Michael can do that. Having come from where he has, it may take him a few weeks and months to get into the swing of things again, but I know that when he gets into the swing of league football again, he will be more than capable of playing in this division and probably beyond.”

Last weekend’s victory provided a much-needed boost at the end of a difficult week that had seen Pools lose the services of last season’s leading goalscorer, Luke James, who moved to Peterborough United on transfer-deadline day.

The timing of James’ departure meant he was impossible to replace, and while Cooper remains determined to use the loan market to his advantage this month, the mood around Victoria Park was somewhat downbeat prior to the Shrewsbury win.

Today’s home game provides an opportunity to maintain momentum, and with Pools fielding a large number of young players this season, Cooper accepts that the mood on the terraces will be an influential factor in terms of influencing the performance of his squad.

“It’s been a good week,” he said. “We saw last year that the group generally feels better when they aren’t chasing the game, and (against Shrewsbury) confidence flowed, they played better football and created chances.

“I said after the game that the fans are the lifeblood and they need to come and support their team, their club and them getting behind the lads is so important. I understand they get angry and disappointed.

“Overall we have a fairly young bunch of players, with some good experience too. But the likes of Brad Walker, Scott Harrison and Jordan Richards are all young men, and they need supporting. People need to see they are making their way in football.”

Tranmere go into today’s game three places and a point above Pools in the League Two table, although the Wirral club still seem to be acclimatising to life in the bottom tier following last season’s relegation from League One.

New boss Rob Edwards was appointed at the end of last season, and on the evidence of the opening six league games, he seems to be adopting an attacking approach.

“Tranmere are not awash with money, and Matt Gill was promoted as assistant, which is similar to Sam Collins here,” said Cooper. “He’s been helping me with bits and pieces, taking the reserve squad and on the bench if he’s not playing.

“They have had a couple of good results, they have been positive in being the second top scorers in the division – scoring ten, conceding ten.

“We have to go into it positively and see how the table looks come Saturday night. Tranmere play good football. If you sit off and allow them to play, it’s dangerous.”