JONATHAN Franks has been given the chance to earn a Hartlepool United return.

Two years after leaving Victoria Park for Ross County, the former Middlesbrough wide-man is back training with his former club.

Franks appeared for Pools as they finished their pre-season preparations with a 1-1 draw at Whitley Bay on Saturday.

“He has been training with us,’’ said boss Craig Harrison. “Obviously Franksy has been here before.

“It is a position we could maybe strengthen in. He is a ball carrier. We are maybe looking for that different dimension. We maybe haven’t got a player who can carry the ball 40 yards and take the pressure off at times in a game.”

Franks was released by Ross County this summer after 55 appearances. He spent three years at Pools after leaving Boro, playing 142 times.

He was one of four trialists to face the Northern League club on Saturday. Pools also fielded Canadian Under-23 international defender Kosovar Sadiki, and ex-Boro duo Junior Mondal and Lewis Maloney.

Pools beat Boro Under-23s on Friday night, with Harrison fielding what appears to be his first-choice side for Saturday’s National League opener with Dover at Victoria Park.

On Saturday, Luke George, Nicky Featherstone and Jake Cassidy were given game time as they recover from injury. Devante Rodney also appeared for the first time in pre-season following a hip injury.

Maloney put Pools ahead with a shot from distance, Franks went close as a cross evaded the keeper and came back off the post.

Bay levelled from the spot through Callum Patton.

Pools won on Friday thanks to a finish from summer signing Jack Munns.

The attacker moved from Cheltenham and he was part of the Robins’ National League winning side two years ago.

Harrison is a big fan of him and said: “We all know that physically he is going to struggle against the big lads but he is intelligent

“He picks up them pockets well. All it takes is for him to find a little half space and he has all the technical ability to finish it off.

“His passing and vision is excellent, too, apart from one or two that went astray on Friday, but that will come.

“He missed seven to 10 days with an ankle injury so he is a little behind the other players but he was excellent on the night.”

Pools: Catterick, Richardson, George (Owen 46), Sadiki, Donnelly, Maloney, Deverdics, Featherstone (Rodney 76), Mondal, Franks (Blackford 73), Cassidy.