EXCLUSIVE: Former Middlesbrough striker Luke Armstrong opens up about Hartlepool United loan move from Salford City

The 24-year-old has returned to his native north east on loan from Salford City until the end of the season.

Armstrong could have waited until January amid EFL interest, but his eagerness to play combined with the opportunity to return home was too enticing to pass up.

Despite Salford having a recall option in January, the striker is keen to complete the season at Victoria Park.

“I’m buzzing to be back in the north east and once I heard about the interest I was keen to get things done,” Armstrong told The Mail.

“I needed to play some games and when it’s coming back home it makes things a lot easier.

"It’s been difficult living by myself in Manchester this year so I’d much rather be in the north east at a club like Hartlepool who are looking to get back up into the Football League.

"It’s somewhere where I feel as though I can play games and do well which gives me a platform to build upon really.

“I just want to play games somewhere where I know the manager believes in me and wants me here, that’s the main thing – whether it’s League Two or the National League, I just want to play.”

Armstrong’s previous spell in the National League saw him score 10 goals in 17 games for Gateshead during the first half of the 2018-19 season.

He also netted 23 goals for Blyth Spartans during their 2016-17 promotion winning season in the Northern Premier League.

But since leaving the north east, he’s found goals hard to come by in the EFL.

“At Gateshead, I had a manager in Steve Watson who believed in me and we had really good group of lads who I just loved playing with and we all loved coming in to training every day,” Armstrong added.

"I think the fact I was living back at home with my family rather than being by myself was a factor as well. I just enjoyed playing there and as with anything, if you enjoy what you’re doing, you tend to perform better and you’re a much better player.

“I’ll always work hard and give 100 per-cent, people know me for my work ethic up front. The last time I was in the National League I scored goals and I’ll always look to get in the box and get on the scoresheet.

"It hasn’t quite worked out how I would have liked in the EFL but hopefully I can get back to scoring goals here.

"I’ve spoken with the manager [Dave Challinor] and he’s been positive, he wants someone to come in and score goals and he believes that I’m someone who can do that here.

“Hopefully that’s the case and I can score the goals that get us the points we need to get back up the table.”

Armstrong was at Victoria Park for Hartlepool’s 2-1 defeat to Boreham Wood on Saturday as the side’s poor run of form extended to one win in eight matches.

And with a lack of goals up front so far for Pools this season, Armstrong admitted he feels added pressure to come in and deliver.

“There’s always pressure to score goals as a forward and if you’re coming into a side where the manager has put faith in you to score goals for the team then there’s going to be massive pressure and expectation,” he continued.

“Sometimes as a striker you can play as well as you can but for whatever reason you struggle to score because you just don’t have that finishing touch but I’m just looking to hit the ground running, get goals and deal with that pressure.

"If you’re playing in an environment where you’re enjoying football then the pressure doesn’t impact you as much. If you’re not enjoying it that’s probably when the pressure starts taking its toll and getting to you.

"I just want to get used to playing again and getting in the right positions. Sometimes it takes time but I’m just looking to play competitive games and I feel I’ve kept myself fit so I’m good to go it’s just about getting up to speed and hopefully playing week-in week out over a busy schedule.”

Armstrong been used out wide for Salford over the past two seasons but he was quick to play down the idea of doing that at Victoria Park as he aims to lead the line for Pools.

“I’m definitely a central striker," he admitted. “I’ve played out wide but it’s not my position and you’re not going to get the best out of me there because I don’t really have the natural attributes to play there.

"My attributes are all about getting in the box, holding the ball up and working hard to score goals. I’ve played out there probably just to do a job most of the time with my work rate but I’d never class myself as a winger at all.

“I’m a striker and I’m just going to take every game as it comes. It’s a cliche in football but we look to win every game and I’ll be looking to score every game and contribute to wins so we’re in a position where we’re in with a chance of getting into the league above.

"You can only do that by doing the right things in training, going into games with a positive mindset and doing everything you can to get the three points.”

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