Hartlepool United players loving their pre-season trip

Of course they are, you would be shocked if they were not enjoying a beautiful part of the world and temperatures of 28C.

But boss Craig Hignett says his squad are loving their times as Pools players and the location is a bonus.

After a late arrival on Sunday evening, it was a case of acclimatising yesterday with a less-than-strenuous session the serious graft starting today in La Caleta.

Hignett, first team coach Curtis Fleming, plus fitness experts Craig Hubbard and Stuart Parnaby will crack the proverbial whip.

However, Hignett said there is a smile on the faces of his players.

“The players have been brilliant,” he explained.

“They have bought into what we are doing and they are enjoying their training.

“They have all took to it and been enthusiastic. I want them to enjoy it.

“It’s not a case of ‘oh no, it’s pre-season’, they are enjoying it.”

Pools will play an in-house ‘friendly’ tomorrow at their training base.

Hignett had enough players for two sides at Billingham Town on Saturday and has sufficient for 90 minutes in La Caleta.

The Pools boss has taken 20 of the 22 players who featured at Bedford Terrace, the only exceptions being triallists Tom Gilbey and Andrew May.

But Jack Blackford, Ben Dudzinski, Kieran Green and Josh Nearney have travelled and will get their first bit of match-time.

One abstentee tomorrow will be summer signing, Jake Orrell, who was jurt on the first day in Tenerife.

“The only down side was Jake had to pull out of the morning session after feeling his thigh a bit,” Hignett told the club’s website.

“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious but it’s still a blow for him and us because it means he’s likely to miss the rest of the training this week.

“He has been looking extremely lively since coming in during the summer.”