Jake Carroll believes Hartlepool United can go higher under Craig Hignett leadership

Optimism is high in the Pools camp after the way the side turned things around under Craig Hignett after the boss took charge in February.

Carroll was one of the – many – players to prosper under the former Middlesbrough star and he says they can’t wait to go again and build on their 16th place in League Two.

“If there was a form table from January sort of time I think we’d have been higher,” said the left-back.

“It would be nice to play the full season as we did from March and see how far we can go.

“I absolutely believe we can go higher, the gaffer has instilled great confidence in us.”

Pools have had a number of success stories during a roller-coaster 2015-16 campaign.

And Carroll fits the bill after coming good in the second half of the programme after some testing times in the first.

Brought in by then boss Ronnie Moore last summer from Sky Bet Championship side Huddersfield Town, there were high hopes for the Irishman.

But Carroll never really got going until probably the third round FA Cup thriller with Derby County.

While Pools went down 2-1 to the Rams, the 24-year-old was superb and from then on a changed man.

“As a team, I was pleased to finish as high as we did considering the place we were in at one stage,” said the Dubliner, who scored his first Pools goal in the home win over Dagenham & Redbridge in March.

“Personally I have been happy there was an upturn in my performances, I’ve sorted things out.

“Ronnie brought me in which I’m grateful for and I think it would be unfair if it’s said I only played badly under him.

“It’s not the case that I didn’t play for him, it was just that I was low on confidence.

“I did have a change in form and that was under Ronnie in his last four or five games.

“The gaffer then came in and he’s brought that on, he has instilled confidence in me and that’s helped a lot.”