HARTLEPOOL United will enjoy the benefits of this week's friendly with Sunderland - and Martin Scott hopes the Black Cats feel the same.

Despite a reserve game on Wednesday, Scott arranged a game at the Academy of Light for his squad players and those returning from injury.

Pool lost 2-1, but Scott knows how valuable the game was for his League One programme and feels his policy of fielding a young reserve side in the Pontin's League is of long-term benefit.

Pool hope to arrange more practice games with their three Premiership neighbours in the coming months and the Scot admitted: "As a manager, it is essential for me to maintain the progression of the young kids at the club.

"We've some good players coming through and progressing well.

"They played a lot of reserve games last season and I think it improved them as footballers. They are being tested at that level, it's a tougher test for them than playing in the youth team.

"I want to see them tested against more experienced professionals. We've a big squad now and it leaves me in a little bit of a dilemma - do we play them in the reserves or do we keep playing the kids?

"Do we make ourselves busier by arranging more behind closed doors games for the lads who don't play on a Saturday and the lads coming back from injury?

"If we play games like we did at Sunderland they get better facilities - and that's not having a go at Billingham where we play reserve games - they play against better players, there's no niggle or nastiness. No disrespect, but you get more out of the pros and seasoned pros if they go to the Academy of Light or the like and play against Premiership players than play against Scarborough at Billingham.

"It will happen again as well, we want to help build good relationships with the Premiership clubs in the region.

"It helps both clubs because they need games as well and the Sunderland game was a good one to watch.''

Mark Tinkler, Joel Porter and Hugh Robertson all played on Wearside as they step up their returns, but none are yet ready for the first team and will sit out tomorrow's game with Walsall.

Scott said: "Our players coming back from injury all got a good run out.

"They are all at different stages, but they are all improving.

"We don't have to rush them back and they will be back when they are ready.

"It's nice to know we don't have to bring them back before they are ready, but it's a massive boost to have them ready and training with the first team squad again.''

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