Hartlepool Utd’s Brad Walker will flourish alongside Tommy Miller

Brad Walker celebrates his goal for Hartlepool United against Bradford AFC during the 1-1 draw at Valley Parade. Picture by FRANK REID

The 18-year-old has committed his future to Hartlepool United by signing a new and improved two-year contract and is enjoying his role in central midfield alongside Miller.

The former Ipswich, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town midfielder returned to the club in the summer, 13 years after he was sold to Ipswich in 2001 for £750,000.

Walker has praised 35-year-old Miller, who he says still has bags of energy and says he is learning a lot from him.

“I enjoy playing with Tommy, he’s still got bags of energy and wants to get forward and he’s been good.

“He communicates with me and helps me on and off the pitch.

“It’s important to learn from players like that.

“I looked up to Simon [Walton] last year because of his experience and it is the same with Tommy.

“They are different players, but I can learn from them both,” added the Billingham-born teenager.

The teenager burst onto the scene 12-months ago after impressing Colin Cooper and then assistant manager Craig Hignett on the pre-season tour to Holland.

He signed his first professional deal and became an integral part of the side last season.

Walker’s spectacular strike away at Southend last season won him the Pools goal of the season trophy and it was solid piece of business by the club to tie him down to a new deal.

Walker signed the contract on Friday morning before the weekend trip to Cheltenham Town but the shine was taken off it by Koby Arthur’s 90th minute winner for Mark Yates’ side.

Cooper’s side thought they had done enough to secure a good away point after facing an onslaught from the home side.

But up popped the smallest man on the pitch to nod home the winner.

Walker, a central midfield powerhouse, didn’t enjoy the best of games at Whaddon Road, losing possession too easily in the opening 20 minutes.

But he knows he needs to keep up the high standards he set himself last season at Victoria Park - both on match days and on the training pitch at the club’s Maiden Castle base, in Durham.

“Since last summer the manager has put me in the side and apart from injuries I’ve played in the majority of the games,” added Walker.

“I just want to keep my place and keep learning and making an impression.

“I’ve come into the team and now it’s about keeping the standards up.

“Last year when we had Simon Walton and Matty Dolan here I couldn’t get back in the team after I was injured.

“But then I cemented my place in the team and stayed in there.

“This season there’s a lot of competition with Michael Woods and Lewis Hawkins coming through so it’s important to keep leaning and working hard in training and in games.”