MARK Tinkler yesterday came through 90 minutes football as he recovers from a long-standing Achilles problem.

The Hartlepool midfielder has been sidelined since the draw with Torquay on August 19 but played 90 minutes in yesterday's 3-0 reserve win at Scunthorpe.

Teenage striker David Foley netted all the goals, which included a second-half penalty.

"Tinks managed to play the full game, which was a real boost for us - I think he found an extra lung from somewhere!" joked reserve team coach Ian Butterworth.

Boss Danny Wilson is one of four nominations for the League Two manager of the month award for September, with the winner revealed on Thursday lunchtime.

After five wins, one defeat and one draw in the month, Pools have moved into seventh spot.

And Wilson said working in the North-East is a new and enjoyable experience: "I am working with good people up here and it's a hotbed of football. The fans are very passionate and that drives you on.

"We have got over a bit of a hiccup in the early part of the season. We have put that behind us and hopefully we can keep moving forward.

"There are expectations, but we are not going to boast about things. We have got our own standards and goals we want to achieve, but we will keep quiet on that.

"It's hard enough in this league and we don't want to give anybody any more incentives when they play against us."

Striker Michael Proctor will be out for three months after having knee surgery.

Pools reserves: Provett, Barron, Tinkler, Jones, Anderson, S Turnbull (P Turnbull, 84), Maidens, Strachan, E Williams, Foley (Mullen, 84), Brown.