Player of the year James Sharp and summer buy Darrell Clarke are in line for their Hartlepool United returns tonight.

Pool take on Gateshead in the opening game of the four-team Century FM Festival of Football at the International Stadium, with Chris Turner giving his first-teamers another run out.

Sharp has not played since Hartlepool's pre-season opener at Blyth on July 14, while Clarke, an £80,000 summer buy from Mansfield, has been missing since picking up a thigh strain in the 1-1 draw with Norwegians Fana on July 21.

Pool will meet either Bedlington or Doncaster tomorrow before meeting Morcambe on Saturday - Pool's final warm up before taking on Mansfield a week tomorrow.

Turner said: "We gave everyone a run out at Berwick last week and it will be the same squad for Thursday.

"It's going to be a long nine months ahead and gelling together doesn't happen overnight. You know we have to change things around during the season and everyone will get their opportunity."

Home-grown Adam Boyd, who netted a last-minute winner against Shrewsbury in February last year on his debut, is entering the final season of a three-year contract.

Turner said: "It's a big season for Adam. He's got good technique and we all know what he is capable of doing.''

Pool, have refuted claims that the Division Three opener with Mansfield on August 11 is in doubt. Construction work has yet to be completed on the Mill House Stand but a Pool representative insisted: "There is no way the match will be off. In the worst case scenario we will have to close one stand but we are definitely playing.'

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