BRIAN HONOUR has been so enamoured with his return to Hartlepool United the Victoria Park hero is already dreaming of success.

Honour, who gave his all for Pools in 384 appearances between 1985 and 1994, has this week teamed up with caretaker boss Sam Collins and the club’s coaching staff.

While Pools seek a permanent replacement for Colin Cooper, Collins has Honour on board to help on the training ground and in the dugout for tomorrow’s game with Luton.

And Collins joked: “With Brian coming in, he is having dreams about me and him wearing white suits on an open top bus parade.

“He hasn’t left me alone since he arrived - was this really a good idea!’’

Collins hopes Honour’s infectious nature rubs off on the players. The stand-in boss led Pools to an improved performance and a 2-1 win at Exeter last weekend and he admits confidence is coming back to the players.

“Brian is brilliant around the lads. I said to him just get right in amongst them as soon as you came in and we all know what Brian is like, he certainly did that!’’ he added.

“It started over a week ago. I’ve known Brian and seen him in and around the ground. I know what people think of him and wanted to tap into that to get the best out the players.

“And it developed. I know how he used to play and I asked if he would like to come in. I spoke to the football club to see if they were happy with that.

“At this moment in time when we have someone like Brian around, it will help us all.

“We all know his passion for the club, but he has more to offer than that. I know him as a person and his enthusiasm will rub off on the players.

“The ability he has is good. Some of the work he has done with the strikers, he will do the same all week, has been very good.

“All these little steps we try and build are aiming towards Saturday and winning.’’

Cooper admitted before his exit that Pools were a coach short with Stephen Pears overseeing the goalkeepers at Victoria Park and Collins admitted Honour’s arrival has proved a boon in working with the attackers.

"I have played as a defender, when Colin was here he was a defender.

“You still understand the way it works but I agree that it is good to have somebody in that has played that position and has a lot of experience there.

“We can still put the right things over to the players but it does help having someone like Brian in to pass on his experience to the young lads, in particular.”

Collins, who won’t entertain thoughts of players calling him boss or gaffer and is referred to as Sam, has lifted spirits around the club following the defeat to Carlisle two weeks ago which brought Cooper’s resignation.

And, while there’s still no immediate rush to appoint as chairman Ken Hodcroft goes through the club’s normal recruitment process, Collins will give his all – insisting his players do the same.

He said: “I always go back to David Brailsford and he always said about those one per cents that add up and this is part of it.

“All the things I have said and tried to change, part of that is Bri. If that means we win football matches then brilliant.

“Brian can’t wait, I can’t wait all the staff are looking forward to it and the atmosphere around the place is similar to last week.

“Everybody had a good feeling about last Saturday and we need to maintain that and take everything into Luton.

“We can’t leave anything out on the pitch - give it everything again.

“Last Saturday didn’t surprise me and what gave me the most satisfaction was the information the scouts had given us, everything was bang on.

“We put it to the players and showed them on a big screen and how the game panned out was exactly what we had worked on.

“That was the most pleasing aspect. We have to do that again on Saturday.”