ADAM Jackson didn’t have time to think about moving on loan to Hartlepool United – and it was just as frantic once he started playing too.

The Middlesbrough centre-half was preparing for training at Boro’s Academy last week, when his boss told him his was on his way to Victoria Park.

Judging by his solid debut on Saturday, Pools owe their former midfielder Mark Tinkler a favour.

Now part of the coaching team at at Rockliffe Park, Tinkler’s recommendation could help all parties – Jackson gets experience in the Football League, Boro see if their defender can cut it at that level, while Pools are boosted defensively.

"I've been wanting to come out on loan to get some experience,’’ reflected Darlington-born Jackson.

"Last Wednesday, the Under-21 coach, Mark, said 'you are going on loan to Hartlepool tomorrow'. It was a case of get our boots and get on your way!

"I knew a fair bit about the club and I always check the results, I have aunties and uncles from Hartlepool and I had family watching my debut, my mam and dad were here and a few cousins."

Jackson was shattered after the game, the pace of Saturday’s FA Cup win over Cheltenham was somewhat relentless, for the Pools defence especially.

The National League side put Pools under second-half pressure and Jackson admitted: "I've not been in a busier game, ever.

"It's completely different to the Under-21s. There you might get a bit of backward and forwards for a few minutes and then the game settles down and you get to pass the ball across the back.

"But in this the ball's going up and down for the full game.

"I loved it. In the Under-21s there's not much goes in the air, but I like that part of the game.

"It suits me and I just go out to try to win my headers.’’

With Scott Harrison (hamstring) and Magnus Okuonghae (foot) both struggling with injuries, Jackson is likely to start in Sunday’s game with Leyton Orient at Victoria Park.

Carl Magnay is free from his six-game FA suspension and will return to central-midfield.

Jackson linked up alongside former Boro skipper Matthew Bates in the back four and their paths have crossed previously.

"Batesy was there when I was in my first or second year,’’ he reflected. "I trained with the first team a couple of times when he was at Boro and he really helped me.

"You look up to someone who's played at that level. He knows how to play the game and he really talked me through it.

"It was good to have him there. It can be hard starting a new defensive partnership, but he made it so easy for me.’’

Jackson was named man of the match by the sponsors at the weekend. The last centre-half to move to Pools from Boro impressed and it’s something noted by the 21-year-old.

He said: "You can play Under-21s but you don't experience games like this - it's priceless experience.

"Christian came here, did really well and he's laying down at Portsmouth now, he's done very well for himself.’’

Magnay was banned for six games by an FA commission who found him guilty of spitting at a Wycombe spectator after he was sent off there in September.

Pools’ have missed him for a total of nine games and the chief executive Russ Green admitted the club was stunned at the nature of the process.

“The charge was brought about by a Wycombe fan who, days after, sent a random email stating that Carl had spat on him,’’ he wrote in Saturday’s match programme.

“We studied the footage, heard Carl’s version, read the email from the Wycombe fan and appealed.

“We attended the appeal at Wembley (which the fan did not attend and was spoken to on the telephone). Storied were changes and the whole episode appeared to be so flimsy for such a serious charge.

“To our amazement, the FA decided he was guilty and suspended him for six games which was ludicrous. In a court of law this would have been laughed out of court.’’