Quality boosts Hartlepool United boss ahead of Tenerife training trip

Hignett has been busy this summer, ensuring Pools secured the majority of their transfer business before pre-season training got underway last week.

And he is confident his new-look squad is an improvement on last year’s side.

Once again Pools found themselves in a relegation battle last season before Hignett took charge in February and steered them away from danger.

Heading into the new campaign, Hignett is pleased with the options available to him and he is positive about the club’s future.

“This season, we will have a better squad than last year with more quality,” said Hignett.

“In a few transfer windows down the line we will have a really, really good squad.

“I think we have added quality and the standard of play will go up.

“I want to add goals to what we had last year.

“We ended last season with some defeats, but overall we would have finished sixth or seventh with the form carried on through a season.”

The Pools squad are back in pre-season at Maiden Castle ahead of a week’s warm weather training in Tenerife.

Hignett has also lined up four friendly games against Billingham Town away (Saturday, July 9), Sunderland home (Wednesday, July 20), Salford City away (Tuesday, July 26) and Scunthorpe United home (Saturday, July 30).

Hignett admits he is wary of organising too many friendly games but one more is expected to be added to the schedule.

“We may add one more friendly – I don’t want too many,” added Hignett.

“I don’t want to kill the players before the season starts.”