HARTLEPOOL UNITED are working on a second new signing ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sutton United, with manager Craig Hignett outlining a push to get “three or four” fresh faces in before the end of this season.

With Pools sitting in mid-table there is still an outside chance they could be involved in either a relegation scrap or a play-off tussle at the end of the campaign.

The more realistic view would be that Hartlepool are more likely to be playing in the same division again come August, so Hignett wants to shape the bulk of his squad now rather than make huge changes in the close-season.

Earlier this week Gateshead defender Fraser Kerr moved to the club and Hignett has revealed he is also on the verge of adding a second new signing provided international clearance is granted.

Hignett did not want to reveal the identity of the player, but did hint that terms had been agreed after impressing during a spell training with the club and he uttered “hopefully we will get another over the line today”.

And Hignett wants more transfer progress. He said: “I am hoping for more of the same, the chairman (Raj Singh) has shown he is willing to do it, he has been fantastic since he came to the club. Nothing has been a problem since he came, if he has felt it needs doing he has done it.

“We have talked in recent weeks about targets, and when to move for targets. As soon as we have identified players we have gone for them. It is difficult to get players out at this stage because some teams are going for promotion or whatever, it is difficult."

Kerr was the first through the door this week and he could go straight into the side at Sutton because of a shortage of defensive options. Hartlepool are without Peter Kioso for the next two games after collecting ten cautions, and they also have Michael Raynes and Carl Magnay sidelined through injury for the rest of the season.

Kerr, an ever-present for Gateshead who have been forced to sell because of financial concerns, will be a valuable addition to compete with Myles Anderson and Aaron Cunningham at the back.

Hignett, who revealed forward Luke James is available again, said: “Talking about Gateshead, Fraser was a little disappointed to leave because the team spirit was good and they were going well, but the opportunity was probably too good to turn down here.

“It helps us because it is one less new player we need in summer, if we can get three or four in before the summer then hopefully we can get more done.

“Fraser is someone we identified a year ago, we thought it would be in the summer, but we are delighted we have got him now.

“I am not party to what Gateshead’s financial problems are, all I know is we got answer.

“The chairman has spent money at this stage of season, he is ambitious, and he wants to move forward, and if we can get players in so we don’t need to do that much in the summer then he is all for that.

“It’s pointless to bring people in here just to plug gaps. We are short in numbers, accelerated because of injury problems in centre of defence, but Fraser is someone we wanted and I am absolutely delighted to have him.”