THERE’S no doubt goals are on the agenda at Hartlepool United this season; and that suits Padraig Amond just fine.

The striker moved to Pools in the summer from Grimsby following a prolific campaign in the National League with Grimsby.

He’s already netted twice for Pools and will again pair up with Billy Paynter at Stevenage this afternoon as Craig Hignett’s side seek their second away win.

After missing good openings in his first two games, against Colchester and Exeter, the Irishman netted in Pools’ 3-3 draw at Crewe. His first goal at the Northern Gas and Power Stadium came last weekend with a neatly taken first-half header.

Amond admitted: “I’ve got two goals now and could have had more, but in the position to get chances is the good thing. If I’m not there then it’s a worry.

“I’m pleased how it’s going with the club so far, but the only disappointment is that we haven’t more points.

“We are going to be an attack-minded team. If you want to sit in and draw 0-0 then we can be boring, but you have to be effective going forward too.

“We fancy ourselves to score – everyone is popping up with goals, look at Nicky Featherstone last weekend. The way he’s finished that it won’t be another 180 games before his next goal!’’

Amond added: “It’s been a good start, but we should have more points. It’s nice to have a manager who wants us to express ourselves and press forward. It’s very good.

“We create chances and as a striker that’s what you want. Me and Billy have a couple of goals already, Nathan Thomas and Lewis Alessandra have been very positive and very good too, going forward we will always be creating chances.

“Keep it going and we will be alright.’’

Pools will be out for a more sedate opening this afternoon to last week, when they were level at 1-1 and down to ten men before four minutes had passed.

That they avoided defeat and were the better side for long periods against Newport said a lot about the outlook Hignett has instilled in his squad.

Amond admitted: “I don’t think I’ve played in a game with a start like that before. A crazy game. The goal we first scored wouldn’t be out of place in a Barcelona game.

“You would go a long way to see a better worked goal – Woodsy lifted it over the top and it’s a great finish. One up after a minute and a bit and you think this is going to be a great day.

“Then next thing, 20-30 seconds later it’s all changed. The grass has been a little bit longer and dryer in the other two home games because of the weather we have had.

“The groundsman has done a really, really good job and the chairman has even been out there cutting the grass too! It skidded off there and I can see why he’s been sent-off.

“We got to 2-2 and we defended really well – even though they scored two. We were very hard to break down.

“It sounds silly I know.

“We created more clear chances, so when we can do that with ten men it shows what we are capable of. Do it with 11 men and we win quite comfortably.’’

Pools have loaned striker Rhys Oates to Gateshead, while Toto Nsiala is suspended today following his red card last weekend.

Matthew Bates (ankle), Rob Jones (back), Carl Magnay (ribs) are all in contention to start, with Nicky Featherstone, Amond and Nathan Thomas back after they sat out the midweek Checkatrade Trophy game at Notts County.