A LITTLE over two weeks ago Micky Barron couldn't see a way back into the Hartlepool United side.

Returning to the squad after a knee operation, the club's longest serving player was watching his side and wondering exactly how he'd get back in.

But he's been handed an opening tonight when Pool take on League One leaders Luton Town - former boss Mike Newell and all - after Jack Ross was red carded in Saturday's FA Cup exit to Brentford.

Ross's one-game suspension takes immediate effect and Barron will resume at right back, his first outing in the first team since December 4.

The defeat was Pool's first in 13 games, but FA Cup games aside, Pool are on a nine-game unbeaten run and are sitting in fifth spot in League One.

"It didn't happen for us on Saturday and the sending-off set the tone,'' said Barron. "The conditions weren't easy and I think it all helped Brentford instead of us.

"I was saying the other week that the way the lads were playing it would be hard for me to get back in the team and maybe the only way in was through suspension, but no-one wants that.

"Jack was obviously disappointed with what happened, he felt he had let the lads down with what was a mistake.

"But it was one of those things that happens. You can make 20 mistakes and get away with them all or one mistake and you can get punished.

"There's no reason for him to feel bad about it.

"He's suspended but, with the players we've got here, there's two or three ways the manager can go and I just hope I get a chance.''

He added: "There was the option of putting me on against Brentford, everyone on the bench was warming up at some point thinking they were going on.

"But when someone is sent off early on like that, it's hard to drag someone off and readjust.

"We lost Jack and Tinks as well and he is vital in midfield for us, especially against a battling team like Brentford.''

Barron tonight will miss out on marking his big mate Steve Howard. Luton's ex-Pool striker, who has scored against his old club in his last three games, is suspended.

And while that might prove a boost for Pool, Barron is quick to warn his team of thinking Newell's side are an easy touch without the big former Tow Law forward.

"They won at the weekend, so maybe that takes a bit of pressure off them for our game,'' he said. "They are clear at the top, so a draw would maybe suit them. If they hadn't beaten Hull, our game would have been a big one because we would have had the chance to really close the gap.

"It's important to win, so we have a little chance of catching them.

"Stevie's gutted to be missing the game. But he's been suspended for four games this season and they have won them all.

"I spoke to him on Saturday morning - I forgot he was suspended and rang him up to wish him all the best! He was about to start running up and down the stands in training.''

Barron, who played with Howard at Victoria Park for three years before the striker moved to Northampton, added: "He always raises his game against us. There's still people in the crowd who give him stick up here, but he's one of Luton's main players.''

New signing Jon Daly is available tonight and is likely to be on the Pool bench.

* Ipswich boss Joe Royle wants loan signing James Scowcroft to earn himself a permanent return to Portman Road.

Scowcroft, 29, has returned for the rest of the season and Leicester's 2-1 defeat to the Tractor Boys on Saturday looks like being his last game for the Foxes.

''I don't believe he is a wide midfield player,'' said Royle.

''That's a cop-out and I've told James he's got to start scoring goals if he wants to come back.

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