Hartlepool goalie Carson makes sure he works on keeping as well as fitness

HUFC training at Catterick. Picture by FRANK REID

But the new Pools keeper hinted he may have received a little ribbing from his outfield team-mates.

Yes, he’s done his share of running, but the newly-appointed goalkeeping coach, Tony Caig, has made sure he’s been using his hands as well as his feet.

Carson will not only be fit for the start of the friendly programme, which opens at Billingham Town on Monday, he will be ready to keep the ball out of the Pools net.

“We haven’t done all the running the lads have done, because Tony knows that we need a different type of training,” said the 26-year-old, who has moved to Victoria Park from Pools’ League Two relegation rivals, Cheltenham Town..

“Fair play to him, because some goalie coaches go along with the manager.

“But Tony’s sort of put his foot down and said ‘I want my goalies doing this’ and it’s been great.

“It’s been hard work, of course, but we’re getting more benefit out of it for our position.” Unlike on the field, Carson talks quietly and the former Sunderland goalie looks as straight a character as you can meet.

Highly-popular at Cheltenham Town, he was honest enough to say that he did not want to play non-league and he wanted to be living in the North-East so he could get to see his daughter.

“It’s great to be back in the area,” said the Northern Irishman. “I’m very content.

“It was one of the factors but I don’t want to be disrespectful to Hartlepool by saying it’s the only reason I signed.

“That’s definitely not the case.

“Hartlepool United is a great club and I’m very excited to be here.

“Having a club like Hartlepool come in for me was fantastic.

“We have a great set of lads here, great staff and Tony Caig has been outstanding.”

Bringing in Carson was an outstanding piece of business by boss Ronnie Moore and chief executive Russ Green after the Robins made it plain they did not want to lose their player of the year.

While Moore has admitted he wants to add another winger to his squad, to bring his signings up to nine, he could well make it 10 with another keeper.

The loan market could be utilised though one of the Conference’s best keepers, Adam Bartlett, is known to be available and on the doorstep, having surprisingly been released by Gateshead.