FORMER Middlesbrough defender Andrew Davies is desperate to lead Hartlepool United back into the promotion picture by helping deliver two home wins in a row.

Pools have slipped up at Victoria Park recently by drawing with Eastleigh and Barrow, and Tuesday’s defeat at Salford City has seen them drop out of a play-off spot.

Now Davies, the captain who made his return to the side last weekend at Halifax, is keen for Hartlepool to show they mean business again by beating Aldershot and Boreham Wood in consecutive weekends.

Two victories in those could see Hartlepool climb back into the mix for the automatic promotion spot and that is exactly what Davies will be demanding from the team, with leaders Leyton Orient six points clear of them.

“We are not too downhearted about it. It just wasn’t our day at Salford,” said Davies, knowing Hartlepool weren’t actually that bad despite a 3-0 scoreline.

“The first half was even then even in the second half they have not created a load of chances. It is just disappointing. They are a good team but so are we.

“Maybe up front we needed to be a bit more of a threat and maybe could have held things up but they had two big centre-halves and they were decent.

“We just move on now to the two home games and we expect to win them both.”

Hartlepool should be boosted against the Shots by the return of another ex-Boro youngster, Luke Williams.

The skilful playmaker is yet to play for Bates’ team since moving from Scunthorpe because of injury and he has been left “frustrated”.

And Bates, speaking to the Hartlepool Mail, has admitted he can’t wait to send him out on the National League stage after returning to full training following the recent knock he sustained in training.

Bates said: “Luke is training with us. He is a player who has been frustrated. We have been there with Luke before but hopefully he is fit enough to train fully on Friday. He did a half session on Thursday. If he can come through unscathed, he will be OK for Saturday.”

Bates said: “It is a one of those things for him - he is frustrated.

“Apart from Tuesday, because of the results, we haven’t really missed him.

“We have got away with it but, without tempting fate, we do truthfully hope he is back this weekend.”

Bates, who does have Peter Kioso available again, also hopes to have first-team duo Ryan Donaldson and Niko Muir back.

Muir limped out of Tuesday’s defeat to Salford in the first half having twisted his ankle. Donaldson tweaked a hamstring earlier this month.

And Bates knows that Muir and Donaldson should be able to help boost a scoring record of just 15 goals in their 13 league games this season.

“The strikers want to score - this is what they are paid for,” he said. “Their movement is incredible up top and at the moment they are creating the chances for others to take. They will get goals if they continue in this form.”