JOEL Porter will start training tomorrow after five days rest to ensure his availability for Saturday’s FA Cup tie with West Ham United.

Hartlepool United’s leading scorer took his tally for the season to 15 with two goals in their last outing, a 2-0 win over Northampton last Friday.

And he won’t have his boots back on until tomorrow because of the need to rest his long-standing tendonitis injury.

Boss Chris Turner admits Porter could do with a threeweek break from the game to ensure recovery, but with West Ham on the horizon and eight League One games to follow in the next four weeks, Pools cannot afford to allow the Australian the benefit of a period on the sidelines.

“We are wrapping Joel up in cotton wool every week because he has a problem which just needs rest and he could do with two or three weeks total rest,’’ revealed Turner. “But he is a big game player and I’m sure he will be fit and ready for this game.

“He won’t train again until Thursday and Friday when we start preparing for the game. We do miss him when he’s not available. He’s 30 now and has the ability to play at a much higher level than what he has done.’’ Porter’s future is the subject of much conjecture, with Gold Coast United of the Australian A-League claiming he has agreed terms for a summer move.

But he has yet to sign a contract to return home and the possibility of an extended stay at Victoria Park cannot be ruled out.

“Joel is out of contract come the summer and like all the others he will have to wait until he is made an offer,’’ admitted Turner.

That offer is unlikely to come until the final throws of the season, as is the policy of club owners IOR.

Skipper Sam Collins (thigh) and winger Matty Robson (calf) should both be in contention for the weekend, despite injury.

Turner, however, revealed he is hopeful of a new signing in the next 24 hours.

He also stated that interest in defender Micky Nelson would not be welcomed from Leeds or Leicester, insisting they would be wasting their time making a January move.

“If we feel we need to strengthen then yes, we will try,’’ he said. “Several areas we feel we need to strengthen in.

“And no-one will be leaving this squad who we feel will play a big part to the end of the season. You have seen it in the past with Dimi (Konstantopoulos) we felt with him we would get promotion and we did. It came at a financial cost because he left on a free, but the immediate situation is what we consider.

“We don’t change our pattern, players are offered a contract at a certain time.’’ Tickets for the West Ham game are on general sale from 9am this morning.

The FA Cup will be at Victoria Park today, as part of the trophy tour which is open to the public from 3pm to 7pm and the cup will be at the club’s evening with Ritchie Humphreys until 9pm.