THE arrival of Roy O’Donovan at Hartlepool United extends the striking options for Chris Turner – and the Irishman has already had a major impact.

A willingness to chase and harrass caused problems galore for the Carlisle back four on Tuesday night, his debut coming just hours after moving on loan until the end of the season from Sunderland.

Pools enjoyed their first win in eight games and while O’- Donovan didn’t score in the 4- 1 win, he created the final goal for Ritchie Jones.

A former Cork City teammate of Denis Behan, Joe Gamble and Leon McSweeney, O’Donovan is using the next few weeks to try and earn a contract for next season to stay in the North-East.

“Roy O’Donovan set the tempo after 30 seconds by putting the Carlisle players under pressure,’’ said boss Chris Turner. “Joe Gamble has told me all about him and he will score goals.

“He is out of contract in the summer, has a good affiliation with a number of players at this club, and who knows what may happen in the summer?

“In any league, you need pace and he brings that to us.’’ O’Donovan started up front with Adam Boyd, before James Brown continued his comeback from knee trouble with 30 minutes in the secondhalf, to futher add to Turner’s options.

“James Brown came back again and it’s hard as a sub,’’ reflected Turner. “The game is already at a tempo, but because of his injuries and time our it is better to come on the second half than start. There will be a time when he starts games and lasts 60 minutes, but that will be in due course.

“I think in the strikers we have – Boyd, Brown, Behan, O’Donovan, Larkin, Bjornsson – give us real options.’’ Pools lie three points and five spots ahead of the relegation zone after their poor run of results, but, with confidence seemingly restored after Tuesday’s win, Turner can see a change in the offing.

“The players got some reward the other night for their efforts,’’ said. “Their application in games and in training has been fantastic.

“I see them every day, home and away and they have not had the reward they deserve.

“We have matched teams every where on the park, but a mistake has cost us.

“Compared to this time last year we are a much better team and have a much better squad.

“If we do the business like we should, then the last five or six games could be ones when we don’t look over our shoulders.’’