HIGNETT TOLD TO ACT LIKE MESSI

HARTLEPOOL United boss Craig Hignett is hoping striker Nathan Thomas can match the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in more than just the ‘most fouled’ statistics this season.

The skilful 21-year-old, who moved to Pools back in January from Mansfield Town having begun his career at Premier League Sunderland, was hacked throughout his side’s opening two matches against Preston and Colchester.

And despite earning his side the most free-kicks of anyone on the park in those games, Hignett is urging Thomas to use that as motivation to bang in more goals this term – just like the world’s very best players.

“Nathan’s a known quantity now and people will target him – that’s something he’s going to have to deal with,” he said.

“He’ll get kicked, he’ll get whacked, he can’t let it affect him. All the good players get on with it and don’t moan about it – do you ever see Messi moaning?

“Ronaldo might but then he will bang in a hat-trick. If Nathan gets to that point he will be all right.”

Thomas won Hartlepool’s penalty in their opening clash with Colchester, but given his current form Hignett is confident he can provide plenty more goals for the likes of Billy Paynter, Padraig Amond and Lewis Alessandra – as long as he learns when to provide the killer pass.

He added: “Teams look out for him. Sometimes he gets past two and then tries to beat three or four, that’s the level of confidence he has at the moment. He needs to learn to beat two and then lay it off.”