HARTLEPOOL United are testing the waters on striker Mark Cullen who scored in this afternoon's friendly with Runcorn Linnets.

The 29-year-old has recently been linked with a move to Pools after being released by League Two side Port Vale. 

This afternoon's friendly against the Northern Premier League side has presented Dave Challinor and his coaching staff with the chance to monitor the free agent ahead of a potential move. 

Cullen is no stranger to the Football League.

He broke onto the scene in 2013 with Luton Town scoring 21 league goals in 71 appearances. From there, he earned himself a £180,000 move to Blackpool in 2015 where he featured heavily in the League One scoring nine times in 41 league appearances, including a brace on his debut against Colchester United.

At Port Vale, the striker has found game time hard to come by and hasn't registered a goal since September last year. 

Pools are desperately short for strikers after Rhys Oates declined a contract offer to join Mansfield and Luke Armstrong opted against a move back to the club after his loan spell to join Harrogate Town.