Hartlepool’s understudy keeper Adam Bartlett will push No 1 Trevor Carson all the way

Unless the summer signing, from Cheltenham Town, suffers an injury, he will be between the sticks against Morecame at Victoria Park on August 8.

But understudy, Adam Bartlett, says he will not be giving the number one an armchair ride.

Bartlett joined Pools after being surprisingly pushed out the exit door at the Conference outfit.

The 29-year-old, who started his career at hometown club, Newcastle United, is not naive - he knows the pecking order but will be “pushing” the former Sunderland stopper.

“Trevor is a top, top keeper,” said Bartlett, who will make his second Pools appearance tonight in the friendly at Whitby Town (kick-off 7pm).

“Working with him over the last 10 days, you can see all the key attributes he’s got, he’s a fantastic all-round goalkeeper.

“I’m looking forward to working with him over the course of the season.

“From my point of view, since I left Newcastle, I’ve been number one everywhere I’ve been for the last eight or nine years of my career. I want to play and I’ll be pushing as hard as I can.

“Hopefully, that will bring top performances out of Trev.

“If not, then I’m ready to step in where needed.”

Bartlett has enjoyed a good career, reaching triple figures appearances at Blyth Spartans, Hereford United and Gateshead.

While the majority of his games have come at non-league level, he has played in the Football League at Hereford and was one of Gateshead’s main stars in the club’s good run over the last three seasons.

“I played, I think, 110 times in the Football League for Hereford before I went to Gateshead,” he said.

“It’s a higher standard and you really have to up your game to play at this level.

“Luckily I have had that bit of experience at Hereford behind me and then I’ve done those three years at Gateshead.

“Over three years at Gateshead, we reached a few milestones and I really enjoyed my time there.”

Bartlett made his debut at Harrogate Railway on Tuesday night, playing the second half of the 2-0 over the Evo-Stik League outfit.

The Geordie had little to do, but what he did he carried out with aplomb.

It was his his first sight of action though he did take part in the club’s army camp at Catterick and played in the in-house 11 v 11 game there.

“That was great, but it’s fantastic now to be getting some game time,” he added.