CONFIDENT manager Chris Turner believes combining youth with experience is the way to fire his side to victory against Oxford United this afternoon.

And the Pool boss believes that by playing Adam Boyd, 19, alongside Gordon Watson, 30, as his front two, the younger of the pair will continue his development.

Boyd, along with youthful wing-back Mark Robinson, is being tipped for a bright future after bursting on to the scene with four goals this season.

And Turner is confident that by pairing the double act he will have a strikeforce capable of wreaking havoc in Oxford's defence.

"The amount of encouragement that Gordon gives to Adam can only help the boy progress," said Turner, who is a huge admirer of Boyd's potential.

"At Macclesfield Watson showed tremendous skill and vision to create the opening for Adam to score.

"Adam will not get a better person to play alongside him up front. Gordon will stay up there and talk him through the game.

"That will develop Adam and I'm sure that he will benefit from playing alongside such a great centre-forward."

Since Watson was signed in September by Turner, the former Sheffield Wednesday front-man has found the net three times in seven appearances.

But the Pool chief is not content with that return and he is convinced that his free signing can get even better.

"Gordon has shown us just how good he is since he came here," said Turner of a forward who has also played for Southampton, Bradford, Bournemouth and Charlton.

"But I feel if he gets another goal he can show us even more.

"In that sense he is similar to Kevin Henderson, because all he needs is a goal and his confidence will be back. I'm sure it will come.

"But Gordon is a great player and he can bring whoever he is playing alongside into the game."

Henderson was recalled to the Pool starting line-up at Macclesfield on Tuesday after serving a three-match suspension, but Boyd came off the bench and hit the game's only goal.

That strike was the Hartlepool-born player's fourth of the season and that is exactly why Turner believes he is on the verge of starting up front.

"We brought him on at Macclesfield to inject something different," said Turner. "And it worked - he scored.

"That is the reason why we are seriously thinking about putting him in from the start against Oxford - he's the one scoring.

"We need to get goals and if Adam is finding the net then he is in there on merit."

Despite returning to fitness, defender Chris Westwood is not expected to be involved today.

The 24-year-old has recovered from a hernia operation, which has kept him out since August 27, but Turner is to keep faith with the same 16 players that travelled to Moss Rose.

That means James Sharp, who was sent off in that win, will retain his place alongside Micky Barron and Graeme Lee in the Pool backline.

"Chris is a lot fitter but he has only one reserve game under his belt," said Turner.

"We probably could have played him but we have got plenty of centre backs and we are not forced to rush players back."

*Pool have been linked with a move for Ross County's £20,000 striker Derek Holmes.

Turner refused to confirm if the 22-year-old was a target but he has been looking to add another forward to his ranks.

Read more about Hartlepool here.