HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner last night laid out the Victoria Park welcome mat for Chris Freestone.

The striker left Victoria Park on a free transfer during the close season and makes a quick-fire return with his new club Shrewsbury this afternoon as Pool aim for their first home win in three attempts this campaign.

But despite a disappointing return of seven goals in 37 league outings, Turner is grateful for the contribution of the former Middlesbrough man at Victoria Park.

Freestone moved to Pool in March 1999 along with record buy Gary Jones as Turner was fighting to stave off relegation to the Conference and admitted: "Chris and Gary arrived with some 12 games to go in the middle of a difficult time - their contribution was one of the main reasons why this club stayed in the League.

"They didn't go out and score lots of goals, but their arrival and reputations gave people more belief that we could stay up.

"Just look at the Scarborough game when Chris scored two vital goals. That game was probably the most important game in the club's history and he did very well.

"We paid money for both strikers and they both left on free transfers, but that money paid out at the time is about one-tenth of what it would have cost the club if it had dropped out into the conference.

"This club could easily have gone out of extinction if that had happened.

"You are going into a new league and up against teams like Rushden and Diamonds who are spending money to get into the League.

"We had signed a lot of new players and they would have left as well as the players we already had and it would have been difficult to attract new players.

"Look what happened to Scarborough last week - that could easily have been happening here.''

Freestone made the trip to the North-East daily from his Nottingham home and Turner admitted: "Last season didn't happen for Chris, he was travelling a lot - 200 miles a day - and to be fair to him he mentioned it at the start of the season. It did affect him because then he wasn't scoring and we saw the snowball effect. But I had no problems with him and I was pleased to help him in the summer.

"He will be coming back and trying his best and aiming to put one over on us, just like everyone does when they play against their old club. I've no doubt that the fans will give Chris a hard time, but I think the genuine people in the ground will recognise what he did.''

Gary Strodder - one of Freestone's travelling companions - will return to the starting line-up after completing a four-game ban.

He will replace James Sharp, now recovered from a hamstring strain and expected to sign a contract next week to keep him at Victoria Park until the end of the season. Pool only have a point to show from two home games this season but Tuner admitted: "Things are coming together. We drew on Monday and were close to winning it and every week we are getting stronger with the return of more players.''

l Pool last night apologied to fans after supplies of the new kit failed to arrive. It is now expected to be in stock on Monday, September 11