Joel Porter arrived from his native Australia in 2003 with 112 games already under his belt including scoring 6 times in 4 games for the Australian national side. Neale Cooper offered the striker a short term spell after unsuccesful trials at Sunderland and Wigan Athletic. Joel struggled in his early days at Victoria Park but scored his first goal in the telivised game with Burton Albion in the FA Cup. Porter went on to score 4 more times in his first season with Pools including a goal in the Play-Off semi final against Bristol City.
Neale Cooper awarded him an 18 month contract in January 2004 and Joel benifitted from a full pre season before the 2004/05 campaign. During this season he formed a formidable patnership with Adam Boyd and scored 15 times, his good form won him the 2004/05 Supporters` Player of the Season.
Porter then suffered a serious knee injury which kept him out of the Hartlepool first team for 10 months as Pools were relegated to League Two. Porter returned to the first team in the 2006/07 season scroing 4 goals in 15 starts, however he picked up another serious injury which kept him out for a further 5 months. Porter returned to first team action in April and featured in Pools last six games, scoring once.
"Joel Porter is a pacy striker who has suffered a series terrible injuries in the past couple of years, he may seem injury prone but is a big threat up front when he is in the side"
I like the "pacy striker" and "big threat up front bit", but I wonder how much damage those injuries have done to him? A major knee injury and a medial ligament problem are both the kinds of problems which can rob a player of his speed.
EDIT: Not so worried about the injuries now. Just read a recent Hartlepool match report which said his "pace and movement" troubled the opposition defence.
Mikeythorn2008-03-03 13:43:43