Craig Hignett reacts to Hartlepool United's National League fixtures

Pools will begin and end their season at the Super 6 Stadium against southern outfits Sutton United and Torquay United respectively.

And that’s something manager Craig Hignett was pleased with following the fixture announcement.

“I am really happy that we’re starting and finishing on home soil,” he said.

“I think any club would ask for that if they had the choice so I don’t think we can complain about that, especially as it hasn’t happened for us too many times over recent years.

“Sutton United are a good opponent to kick-off with. They have been consistent performers over a number of season and have been in and around the play-off positions in the National League so it’s a difficult start for us.”

One of Hartlepool’s six summer signings so far was French forward Gime Toure from Sutton.

The towering 25-year-old impressed during Pools’ pre-season opener at Billingham Town on Tuesday and Hignett is hoping his new striker will hit the ground running against his former club on opening day.

“It will be a good one for Gime Toure obviously having just joined us from Sutton,” the Hartlepool boss commented in his club website blog.

“I am sure that was one of the fixtures that he will have been looking out for this afternoon and hopefully he can get off to a flyer for us against them.

“I know it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things because you have to play everyone twice but it does look a decent start for us, albeit as busy as we had expected.

“We always knew that during the first six weeks or so of the new season we play pretty much a quarter of the games so it’s hectic and it’s busy but it’s the same for everyone and by and large we’ll be playing in good weather so it’s not too bad.”