HE spent last season as a pariah at Brunton Park, exiled by Carlisle manager Keith Curle. But Billy Paynter has arrived at Hartlepool United with a fresh outlook.

The striker, appointed captain after his summer move, is an injury doubt for this afternoon’s game. He suffered a hamstring strain in the midweek Capital One Cup reverse to Bournemouth and, while it may be a bit worse than feared, there’s no doubt Paynter wants to play this afternoon.

Three goals in his first three games showed his desire to make the most of his escape from west to east.

During his time under Curle last season, among the issues raised was that Paynter was forced to undergo extra training sessions in the gym away from the first-team squad. It led to the PFA having to get involved.

It is understood Paynter’s programme column this afternoon has not been used as a platform to have his say.

Pools’ boss Ronnie Moore said: “There’s nothing to prove to Carlisle, he’s come in here and done everything and more expected of him so we don’t have a problem with him.

“You have to be careful playing against your old clubs – you run along on adrenalin, do too much, charge around and knock someone over and it’s game over, off before you know it.

“Billy has more than that, experience galore and he will want to play and do his bit.

“He knows if he can play. He has played enough games and has the know-how. I hope for his sake he is fit, he’s chomping at the bit to play.’’

The Cumbrians enjoyed a Capital One Cup win at QPR in midweek, at the same time Pools were being turned over 4-0 by a fluent Bournemouth at Victoria Park.

And, with a trip to Liverpool next up in the competition for Carlisle, Moore admitted: “The big thing is, now they face Liverpool in the next round, as a manager you have players who maybe aren’t going to put a foot in and avoid getting injured,’’ he said.

“They don’t do it on purpose but I’m sure one or two of our lads might remind one or two of their lads about what game is coming up and they will have to be careful!

“It can be a distraction. As a manager you have to say to your players that if you want to play then you have to perform. Players who are playing against them will say ‘come near me and I’ll boot you’! Then we see who is brave!

“As a football club it’s a great position to be in and they will all want to play. They don’t do it on purpose but who knows, it could go either way.’’

Of his own Cup experience on Tuesday, Moore added: “Bournemouth is gone now, history, but what a long 90 minutes! I kept looking at the clock and wanted it turning off – wave after wave of attacks and it’s not a nice feeling.

“It wasn’t to be, but at least our players now know what the level is if they want to go higher in the game. Get an Everton, Liverpool and Man United and they can do serious damage to you – Bournemouth are supposed to be one the of the struggling sides.

“We hope it’s not caused any problems. It was a one-off, a freebie that game. Maybe I shouldn’t have said it beforehand because some of them treated it like that! But the important thing for us is Carlisle, we don’t face Bournemouth at our level no chance.

“I suppose if we don’t win on Saturday then people will say it’s because of the Bournemouth game, but I don’t think that’s the case. We will get the minds right and if they can’t get up for that one then they should not be footballers.’’