HARTLEPOOL UNITED have made a ninth signing of the summer after securing the services of non-league hot-shot Marcus Dinanga on a season-long loan deal.

The Burton Albion forward has been banging in the goals during loan spells with Matlock and Telford United during the last two years.

And after scoring 34 goals in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division two years ago and 25 times last season in the National League North, the challenge facing Dinanga now is to do it at the next rung up the football league ladder.

The 21-year-old, who has not played for Burton’s first team yet, was handed a new contract by Brewers boss Nigel Clough, who was happy for him to try his talent in the National League at Victoria Park.

And Hartlepool manager Matthew Bates – knowing the new recruit scored goals at Spennymoor and Darlington last season – is delighted to have landed a strong and quick forward, just days after taking striker Luke James back to the Vic.

“He came to our attention when we were looking at the stats of strikers from the league below,” explained Bates.

“He did really well at Telford in what was a struggling side, with all respect to them, so we watched plenty of footage of him and liked the look of that and also spoke to several managers who came up against him last season who all gave positive reports.

“It was one of the first phone calls we made earlier in the summer to see if we could get him here and I have to say that Burton have been very professional in keeping us updated along the way.

“I think there were a few other clubs in for him but because we did things right they were keen for him to come here.

“He’s strong, quick and a bit raw given he’s only 21 but he does the basics really well and I can see him being a big asset for us this season.”