New signing Julian Cherel put pen to paper on a contract with Pools this afternoon and then immediately targeted a regular starting spot in Chris Turner's side.

The French defender impressed the Pools hierarchy during two trial games for the Reserves and has now agreed to a permanent move to Victoria Park.

It represents a landmark moment for the 26-year-old who learnt his football growing up in the north west of France playing for Stade mahlerbe de Caen and Mondeville Uson.

And now he's put down some roots in England, he is determined to make the most of his opportunity to carve out a career in the professional game.

"I'm very pleased to get everything sorted out," Cherel told us.

"The Manager is cool and all the players are cool and now I want to do as well as I can for the team and get them further up the table.

"All the French players want to play over here because the game is open and spectacular in style so everyone prefers to watch English football.

"The football is just better over here; I'm confident I can prove myself at Hartlepool and I'm delighted to be here.

"I've not come to play in the Reserves - I want to get in to the First Team and play as much as I possibly can."

Despite not speaking English fluently, Cherel has already become popular within the squad during training and he admits that the other players have helped him feel at home.

"The players here have been excellent with me," he explained.

"I think there is a greater sprit in the English game and we have that in this squad and I want to be a part of that.

"I'm a team player and I will be happy if we win but not happy if we lose - that is always how it should be.

"I really admire Steven Gerrard and how he plays the game because he plays for the good of the team and not just for himself."

"I will try to learn and improve my English as quickly as I can.

"I think being around the other players both on and off the pitch will help with that certainly.

"On the way to training in a morning Denis Behan has been teaching me English words which has helped - though he is Irish which I understand is a different accent!"