Having netted his first goal for Hartlepool United, 30-goal striker Padraig Amond hopes he can carry on against Notts County

But Hartlepool United have one - Padraig Amond.

And now, having netted his first goal for the club, Amond hopes that he can help fire Pools to victory over Notts County.

The striker, who moved to The Northern Gas and Power Stadium from Grimsby over the summer, praised the influence of the club’s coaching staff - and not just ex-striker Craig Hignett.

Having netted 30 times at Blundell Park last season, Amond came to the North-East looking to add to the goals of Pools’ also-prolific Billy Paynter.

And despite failing to find the net in his opening three games, the striker made an instant impression, with his hard work and athleticism catching the eye.

But a striker is there to score goals, and Amond admitted it was nice to follow up his positive performances with his first goal in Pools’ draw at Gresty Road in midweek.

“The hardest goal to score is your first goal.” he said.

“I missed a chance at Exeter which I should have scored, but it probably came a little bit too quickly off the pitch to me.

“I always play on the shoulder and expect the unexpected - and it worked out in my favour. I was just happy to finish the goal at Crewe and I was happy to see the ball hit the back of the net after missing at Exeter.

“Hopefully I can build on it now, starting this weekend.”

While his spell in the North-East is very much still in its early stages, the striker was pleased to shake of the pressure of having not scored.

“My first target was to get off the mark and that kind of settles everything down.” Amond added.

“It’s a little weight off your shoulders because when you join a new club you don’t want to go 10 games without scoring or go through a little baron spell.

“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and pushing on from here.”

Pools boss Hignett has made his attack-minded policy clear to see in the early weeks of the season, and the former Middlesbrough striker is sure to be a big influence on Amond.

But the ex-Morecambe forward revealed that the trio of ex-professionals that make up Hartlepool’s coaching staff - including coach Curtis Fleming and goalkeeping expert Tony Caig - have all helped him improve his game.

“I remember the gaffer from when he was playing and all the goals he scored,” Amond said. “It’s funny because the gaffer can tell you all about the things you do as a striker, but Curtis comes into it as well, and so does Tony.

“Tony will tell you about the weak spots goalkeepers have, so you don’t have to worry about them going into a game, because he’ll tell you.

“Curtis gives you the information that defenders don’t want strikers to know.

“He’s been a defender at such a high level and he can tell you what they don’t like strikers doing.

“The gaffer was a successful striker and I can learn a lot from that, but I can learn a lot from the other staff too.”

And Amond will be hoping that the coaching staff will have plenty of information for him ahead of the visit of John Sheridan’s Notts County.

Despite a slow start to the season, Amond is well aware the quality within the Magpies’ ranks.

“They’re a big club and you only have to look at some of the players they have to see how big they area.

“It will be a very tough test for us.”