THEIR working relationship may have curtly ended, but Aitor Karanka has backed Craig Hignett to be a success as a manager.

Hignett was assistant manager to Karanka at Middlesbrough for eight months, before a falling-out led to his swift departure in December 2014.

Appointed Hartlepool United manager on Wednesday evening, Hignett was straight to work at Victoria Park yesterday.

And Karanka, who poached Hignett from his first-team coach role at Pools in March 2014, admitted: “I think always when you're an assistant you're thinking about being a No 1 one day as it's the next step, but it's true that to take that step you have to be really sure.

“For example, I've been working with Jose (Mourinho) for three years and in the first two seasons, especially when you're working with the best, it's difficult as you think what you could do, but when you compare with him it's impossible.

“But after those seasons and in the third season when I had to think about my future and I knew I could be a coach, it was the main thing. I was sure I could do it - you have to trust yourself but know it's very different being a No 1 than a No 2.’’

Hignett admitted yesterday that he learned a lot under Karanka at the Riverside and the Spaniard said returning to Victoria Park will be a big help to the new boss: “I think as a person, as a footballer, sometimes you've played professional football you know the rules of the changing room, you can manage players, and then you have the ability to try and pick the best players, the way to train.

“Craig has experience with me, with Colin (Cooper) at Hartlepool, so it's a mixture of everything.’’

Pools signed a number of players on loan from Boro while Cooper and Hignett were in charge, while they currently have Adam Jackson on a temporary basis until the end of the season.

Karanka is willing to see more players move to League Two: “Maybe yes. When Colin was there we sent a few players as we had a good connection and when you work in the same style, it's better for the kids, for Hartlepool and for us.’’