CRAIG Hignett admits the arrival of Sean Kavanagh allowed Jake Carroll to leave Hartlepool United.

Left-back Carroll has today completed a move to Cambridge United for an undisclosed fee.

Pools last week signed Kavanagh on loan from Fulham for the remainder of the season and he impressed on his debut last weekend, when he replaced Carroll.

Hignett, speaking at this morning’s press conference at Maiden Castle, said: “Jake moving on and we could afford to let him go. Sean is going to play and Jake wasn’t. He had a chance to move on and good luck to him.

“He’s been great since I’ve been at the club, he’s been a really good professional and we wish him well.’’

Of the prospect of more arrivals this month, Hignett, who last week sold Toto Nsiala to Shrewsbury, added: “Kav is in and we will see what else happens. We will be looking to bring one or two in and I think we will be loaning people.

“We want people who will improve us, not just anyone who will make up the numbers, they’ve got to come in to play.’’

Carroll, who was dropped for Pools’ 5-0 home defeat to Cambridge in December, will train with his new team-mates this morning and could make his debut on Saturday and said: “I’m really pleased to be here because it’s a club clearly going in the right direction and with real ambition.

“I’m relishing the chance to play my part in a team that is challenging in the top half of the division.

Us boss Shaun Derry said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jake into our squad, as he is a player we have been tracking since the previous transfer window.

“He’s very much a different type of full-back to the players we already have within our group and he will be able to contribute in a different way.”