JAMES Husband, who completed his transfer from Doncaster Rovers this afternoon, starts for Middlesbrough in their friendly at Hartlepool United.

The left-back’s deal was finalised earlier today and with striker Curtis Main moving in the opposite direction.

And there’s positive contract news for Pools, with striker Luke James and right-back Michael Duckworth both signing new contracts today.

Boro also include Kike, their new Spanish striker, and start with three ex-Pools players in their side – two loaness in Christian Burgess and Luke Williams and goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Pools give a start to on trial midfielder Jonathan Greening, but there is no place for Tommy Miller who has a hamstring strain.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Duckworth, Bates, Austin, Holden; Compton, Parnaby, Greening, Walker, James, Harewood. Subs: Rafferty (gk), Collins, Smith, Rowbotham, Franks, Jones, Richards.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Konstantopoulos; Bennett, Burgess, Hines, Husband; Whitehead, Leadbitter; Williams, Adomah, Halliday; Kike. Subs: Atkinson, Gibson, Morris, Tomlin, Reach, Fewster, Osorio.

Referee: Tony Harrington.