Danish ace Jan earns his bacon.

Byline: ADAM STEEL

JAN BUDTZ has declared himself up for Hartlepool's relegation battle and his fight to stay in the team after a man-of-the match display at Crewe.

Chris Turner handed Budtz only his fifth start of the season between the sticks despite having Arran Lee-Barrett available after a one-match ban.

The Danish goalkeeper repaid his manager with a series of top-drawer saves and a clean sheet in Saturday's basement scrap.

Budtz is in the dark about where he will be playing next season but is hoping to retain the No 1 shirt and help Pools stay in League One at the same time.

The former Doncaster shot-stopper, who was set to keep his place for today's home game against Scunthorpe, said: "I think I played one of my better games.

"Sometimes you are a bit off it and sometimes you hit your day and I think I hit my day and came for a couple of crosses and helped the back four.

"Obviously I wasn't happy at all when I lost my place and I think people knew that but that was the manager's choice and as a player you just have to bounce back.

"You can't argue with a clean sheet, I love the feeling you get from one and the lads were buzzing in the dressing room.

"It definitely gives me a confidence boost. I'm out of contract in the summer and every time I go out on the pitch I play for myself of course as well as for the club.

"There might be people out there looking who need a keeper next season and I don't know where I am at the minute.

"I've got an option for next year but I haven't talked to the club yet.

"Everything is open and it would be really good to stay in the team until the end of the season and keep us up." Pools were set to back to full strength against The Iron after resting top scorer Joel Porter (groin) at Crewe.

"Scunthorpe is a massive game but I think with the way we played on Saturday if we can just keep a clean sheet we have got goals in us every game we play," said Budtz.

"Obviously not on Saturday but we got four against Hereford and if we can keep a clean sheet every game we will get a point or three..

"It was important not to lose at Crewe. One point away from home is really, really big now and if we get three points today it looks really good for us." On-loan Huddersfield left-back Joe Skarz was set to stay in the side against Scunthorpe after a decent full debut at Crewe.

"I've said it before - it's not easy as a loan player because they haven't played much and are playing with players who they don't really know," said acting boss Chris Turner.

"We've eased him in and gave him the opportunity on Saturday against difficult opponents and he got better as the game went on.

"Scunthorpe will be a tough one, we just have to keep the board ticking over and three points would be fantastic. This run of three games is important - we've got one point, have Scunthorpe to come and then Yeovil on Saturday." POOLS: Budtz, Liddle, Nelson, Collins, Skarz, Jones, Clark, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Nardiello (Humphreys 89), Parker (Mackay 75). Unused subs: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Robson..

Next match v Scunthorpe at The Vic, today, 3pm

CAPTION(S):

UP FOR THE FIGHT: Joel Porter (above) returns for Pools against Scunthorpe today, while Jan Budtz (left) is set to keep his place after a top class display