CRAIG HIGNETT is confident his summer rebuilding programme will ensure Hartlepool United are a much more powerful proposition in the forthcoming National League season than they were last year.

Hignett’s six summer signings were all on display in today’s 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, and while Pools were well beaten by their Championship opponents, their second-half showing in particular provided grounds for optimism.

Boro goalkeeper Aynsley Pears made three excellent saves to protect his side’s clean sheet, with Pools’ new-look side boasting plenty of pace and power.

Those attributes were conspicuous by their absence on a number of occasions last season, and having completed the majority of his rebuilding work at the start of the summer, Hignett is confident his new line-up will be able to make their presence felt from the opening weekend of the new campaign.

“It was a conscious decision to do things early,” said the Pools boss, who previously worked at Middlesbrough as number two to Aitor Karanka. “I wanted to have a good five or six weeks working with the lads I knew were going to be here to try to bed things down, because we’ve had an awful lot of work to do.

“I wanted to change the make-up of the squad, and I knew the players I wanted. We’ve had three or four that turned us down, that would have improved things again, but I’ve got a budget to work to and I’ve done that now.

“I’m really pleased with where we are and what we’ve got, and with how we’ve changed the side. I think we’re more physical, stronger, and we’ve got much more pace about us.

“We’ve got people who can go past people, we’ve got a threat now, and I think in our league, we’ll be alright.”

Having tested themselves against Championship opposition today, Pools return to action in less demanding climes on Wednesday night when they travel to York City.

Hignett will start to hone in on his preferred starting line-up in the next couple of games, and is pondering whether to call on former Boro youngster Luke Williams at Bootham Crescent.

Williams signed for Pools last summer, but missed the entire 2018-19 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury that required two bouts of surgery.

He is back in full training now though, and after signing a new contract last month, is set to play a pivotal role in Pools’ forthcoming Conference campaign.

“He’s trained every day,” said Hignett. “He was wanting to play some minutes today, but I don’t see the point yet. I want to get him in full contact, but he’s been involved in all the five-a-sides that we’ve done.

“He needs two weeks probably, maybe a bit more, but he might play some minutes on Wednesday. He’s close, and he’s pestering the living daylights out of me to play. But he’s been out a long time and we don’t want to rush him.”