CHRIS Turner will tonight hand Adam Boyd the chance to impress in the absence of leading scorer Gordon Watson.

Watson will be sidelined for around eight weeks after breaking a leg in Saturday's win over Darlington and Boyd will be given the opportunity to make his mark when Pool entertain Lincoln at Victoria Park.

Five-goal Watson yesterday visited a specialist and Turner said: "He has to leave the pot on for two weeks and then it will be changed, but there are no complications or further problems.''

Hartlepool-born Boyd, who has been taken under Watson's wing at Victoria Park, goes into the game with a ringing endorsement from Turner.

"This is a good chance for him - and I think he is up to the job. It's no secret that he will come in, he deserves a chance and it's up to him to make the most of it,'' he said.

Pool were without Watson for five games last season after he underwent knee surgery in February - and Boyd, who netted nine times last season, ensured Pool didn't miss their front-line talisman by netting three times in his first two games, including two in a minute on his first opportunity.

"I'm sure we will cope without Flash because we will still create chances,'' said Turner. "He didn't score against Darlington on Saturday, but we still scored four times. Adam can create and score just the same, everyone knows the ability he has.''

Saturday's win was watched by a crowd in excess of 6,300, to lift Pool's home average this season to over 5,000, and Turner is looking for another bumper crowd tonight.

"Saturday was nice for the fans to beat their local rivals and beat them handsomely, but now we need to carry it on against Lincoln,'' he said. "It's important we get a good crowd, because we don't want it to be a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show.

"It might not seem so in the eyes of supporters, but Lincoln is a major game for us because we can increase the lead at the top before we go away to Bury.

"It's important to get the fans in to get behind us, create another good atmosphere and hopefully help us to another good result.

"It will be a tough game, we don't want people thinking we have won before we even go out there just because of Saturday, it's important people in the town come out and support us now while we are at the top.

"If they don't come out and support us now when will they? We are top of the league, playing entertaining football and scoring goals - what more to they want to see?"

Pool: A Williams, Barron, Lee, Westwood, Robinson, Clarke, Tinkler, Widdrington, Humphreys, Boyd, E Williams. Subs (from): Provett, Henderson, Sweeney, Robson, Arnison, Simms.

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