In-form Luke Molyneux admitted he was delighted to keep his scoring start to pre-season going during the win at Shildon on Saturday as preparations continued for the new campaign.
The flying winger signed permanent terms with the Club during the summer and hit the net in fine style at Billingham Town on Tuesday before scoring a stunning double at Dean Street.
Molyneux is happy that he has been able to hit the ground running in pre-season but insisted that the bigger picture is that Pools keep on getting stronger ahead of the National League kick-off next month.
“I enjoyed the game,” he told us afterwards.
“I actually felt quite tired at the start but as I got in to the game that helped and I got the two goals which made everything a lot better.
“I am playing with confidence at the moment. It helps with the gaffer as well because he makes me confident and he understands the way I play so I am feeling good right now.
“I think I have always preferred to be on that right side because that means I can cut in on my left but I can go either way as well, I can go down the line too.
“When I am running with it I can hear the lads shouting to get the ball off me but I am confident in my ability and hopefully I know when to pass and when to run so I will keep doing it.
“It was nice to get those two goals but the win and the clean sheet is massive for us too.”
Boss Craig Hignett has spent the summer strengthening his squad with new additions and Molyneux reckons the competition for places allied to the hard work will make Pools a force during 2019/20.
“You can see how many good players we have got going forward now.
“We have been able to play two completely different starting elevens in the two games so there are definitely options for the Manager and I think that helps when you're looking to go for promotion.
“We've done a lot of work in training to prepare for these types of games and I think as pre-season goes on we'll get fitter and fitter, and we'll definitely be ready for the season.”
Molyneux's Dean Street double may not have gone down too well with the locals, given that he was born in neighbouring Bishop Auckland and grew up just five miles away in Newton Aycliffe.
Indeed, the former Sunderland man was invited to officially open Shildon's brand new stand last September though he's unsure if he will be welcome back after his two-goal blast.
“I opened the Stand last year and it's looking really decent – this is a good club with some good people so hopefully they won't hold the goals against me!” he laughed.