Hartlepool United manager Neale Cooper has revealed that the club are still keen to bring Sunderland striker Ryan Noble to League One.

Noble impressed Cooper on loan at Hartlepool last season and the manager has stated that should things not work out with the Black Cats then there would be an opportunity with his club.

"There is no secret I still like Noble at Sunderland," Sky Sports News quotes Cooper as saying. "He has been featuring in the first team there in pre-season, and great for him to be able to do that.

"However if he isn't come the start then I think he would love playing alongside Steve Howard."

Noble has made five league appearances for the Sunderland first team.