HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner is ready to welcome back his walking wounded as Pool's promotion fight hots up.

After securing the signings of Jermaine Easter, Gordon Simms and Andy Brownrigg this week, Turner has now turned his attentions to getting his four injured players back in action.

Midfielder Paul Stephenson is first in line for a recall and is likely to be in the frame for the trip to Plymouth a week on Saturday.

He has been out of action since breaking his wrist at Macclesfield last month and Turner said: "He's been able to do running and has been training with our fitness coach, but it's the physical side of things he has been unable to manage.

"We have been warned by the specialist of the long-term dangers of rushing him back too early and we have had to keep him back.''

Defender Graeme Lee has yet to kick a ball this season after knee trouble that led to cruciate ligament surgery last October.

But the classy centre-back is now in line to make his first start of the season in Pool's reserve game with Notts County at Victoria Park a week today.

Fellow defender Gary Strodder was back in action for the reserves last week following surgery on a troublesome Achilles in December. Pool have gone 17 games unbeaten, but Strodder has not been involved since starting the first game of that run, a 1-0 win over Southend.

The return of Lee and Strodder, coupled with Turner's recent captures of Simms and Neil Aspin means the Pool chief has seven central defenders available for the vital run in.

Paul Arnison has stepped up his training and is likely to be back in two or three weeks after damaging knee ligaments in the win over Blackpool last month, while Thomas Tennebo, who suffered a double compound fracture of the leg playing for the reserves at the start of the season, has been given the all-clear by the specialist to step-up his training.

However, it is not all good news for Turner as influential midfielder Mark Tinkler will miss the trip to Plymouth a week on Saturday and the home game with Lincoln.

James Sharp was booked for the fifth time in the draw with Rochdale last week, but after passing the February threshold will receive a warning from the FA instead of a ban.