CRAIG HIGNETT’S wish to land a tough tackling midfielder has been granted in the form of former Salford City man Gus Mafuta.

The 24-year-old has moved to The Super 6 Stadium after playing almost 30 times for the promoted City last season – and he will look to follow that up with a repeat next May.

Hignett spoke earlier in the week about the need to find someone with the dirty side in the middle of the pitch and that has ended with him securing the services of Mafuta.

He started his career with Colchester United and moved to Bristol City. He had a spell at Gateshead after that where he made 60 appearances.

Mafuta joined Salford in 2017 and played against Pools for the Ammies on the final day of the campaign before also starring in their promotion final victory over Fylde at Wembley.

Mafuta follows a string of other recruits this summer having already added Nicke Kabamba, Ben Killip, Luke Molyneux, Michael Raynes and Gime Toure to Hignett’s squad.