HARTLEPOOL United manager Chris Turner has urged all of his fringe players to put pressure on his current starting 11.

The Pool boss saw Pool reserves lose 4-2 against Avon Insurance League Division Two leaders Macclesfield at Seaham yesterday and he is hoping to see all the squad fight for places.

Starting for Pool's second string yesterday were last season's first-team regulars Paul Arnison and James Sharp, as well as Jon Bass, Martin Hollund, Anth Lormor, Jermaine Easter, Gordon Simms and Adam Boyd.

And Turner has called for those eight to get their heads down and give him plenty of selection problems.

"There are a lot of players who can challenge for places," said Turner, who was boosted by a substitute appearance from Paul Stephenson. "And that's what we want.

"All of them have to be seen to be working hard, competing and making it difficult for me to pick the team.

"I want to be able to bring someone in if another player is not doing his job. That's how it should be.

"It's not a case of bringing someone in just for the sake of it, they have to be performing for the reserves."

Loanee Jonathan Parkin grabbed Pool's first in the defeat and Lormor hit the second, but Turner insists he was not too disappointed at losing.

"Even though you don't like to be beaten, reserve games are times to experiment," said Turner.

"This was a chance to see young trialist Mark Swales play at right-back, with Jon Bass in the middle of defence, Paul Arnison in the centre of the pitch and Jermaine Easter wide right.

"We also had Paul Stephenson returning from injury and that was pleasing, but he is nowhere near fit yet - he only started training on Monday."

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