The 30-year-old joins Shields in August 2022 after spending three seasons with Ebac Northern League side Whickham.

He had joined Whickham from Hartlepool United, where he had been since the summer of 2017 following his departure from Cambridge United.

A product of Newcastle United’s academy, he was on the Magpies’ books as early as 9-years-old and made a debut for their reserve team in 2008.

The box-to-box midfielder gained senior experience through an 18-month loan with Scottish outfit St Mirren during which he scored in their League Cup final triumph over Hearts in 2013.

When he was released by the Magpies, he made a move to Rotherham United where he spent a season before joining Cambridge in the summer of 2015.

He made 32 appearances for the U’s during 2016/17 and had options to stay in the EFL following his release but the lure of a return to his native North East proved too much and Pools won the race for his signature.