Composed Brackstone enjoying the time of his footballing life

The left-back gave the most composed performance of his fledging career at Grimsby on Tuesday, as Pools followed up a 5-3 win at Peterborough with a 4-1 victory.

And as Pools aim to make it three in a row this afternoon against Wrexham - a team Pools have put nine past in their last two meetings and 17 in their last six - Brackstone is clearly relishing his game right now.

His elder brother Steven started out at Middlesbrough before moving to York and then falling out of the professional game and Brackstone junior is desperate to make the most of the chance given to him by Danny Wilson.

Brackstone made his Pools debut in a 4-0 defeat at Blackpool three years ago, but started this season with just 15 Football League appearances to his name.

Securing a regular run in the side has proved problematic for the former St Hild's pupil; a short burst of games followed by a longer spell on the sidelines.

But Wilson has put his faith in Brackstone, giving him a chance to impress and putting him back in the side even after a three-game suspension for a red card collected against Boston United.

"To win the last two games like we have has been unbelievable. We've doubled our tally for goals - five at Peterborough and four at Grimsby, it's been fantastic and brilliant to be involved in games like that,'' admitted the 21-year-old.

"Personally, it's nice to get a good run in the team, I'm really enjoying my football. I work hard in training and enjoy being at the club - hopefully I can stay in the team and keep playing.

"The manager has been fantastic for me, he's showed he has belief in me and has given me a chance in the team, which is what everyone wants.

"It's my hometown club and I want to play for the club and want us to do well. It means a lot to me.''

He added: "My brother was at Middlesbrough, but he isn't playing professionally any more and that gives me the determination to make it and play for this club. Things have worked out well for me and hopefully I can learn from what's happened to him and push on from there.

"Playing for Pools means so much to me. I was in the stands when I was seven, eight, nine year old watching the games. I was there with all my family watching the play-off games with Darlington the other year and all I have ever wanted to do is play for them.

"I'm delighted to achieve that aim and just want it to continue.''

After a sluggish start to the season, Pools have clicked spectacularly into gear in the last week to move into the top half of the table.

But Brackstone admits that there was never any doubt within the Victoria Park dressing room that a good run of results was not far away.

Goals might have been scarce in the opening games, but not now. Jon Daly has four in the last two games, Gary Liddle three and Brackstone admitted: "The quality of the goals has been good and the fact that we have been scoring goals from all over the pitch shows what we have in our squad.

"Joel's scored, Jon's been working well up front with him and scoring as well - he's put away a couple of penalties as well.

"Gary Liddle has been fantastic, for a player to come in and do so well so soon proves what a great player he is. I think that signing players like him shows the ambition of the club and shows that we mean business.

"We had a slow start to the season and it took time to get going, but we always had belief within the dressing room and the squad and now we've got a couple of wins our way, we can move on and hopefully keep it going.

"When you are playing like we have been and scoring as many goals as we have, it's only natural that confidence is sky high and everyone is enjoying their football right now.

"But we won't get carried away, we will keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard. That's all we can do.''