The 25-year-old has been without a club since leaving SkyBet League One Scunthorpe United during the summer and has been training with Pools in recent weeks.

Williams enjoyed a successful loan spell with Hartlepool back in 2013/14, producing a number of eye-catching performances as he found the net twice in his seven outings.

A former Middlesbrough trainee, he became the youngster player for over 100 years to play first-team football for Boro when he debuted in 2009 aged just 16 years and 200 days.

His promise and obvious ability was rewarded with a professional contract at The Riverside Stadium and the England under-17, 19 and under-20 international went on to play more regular senior football.

After his spell at Pools, Williams also spent time on loan with Scunthorpe, Coventry City and Peterborough United before the Iron paid a fee to take him to Glanford Park in 2015.

He went on to score 7 goals in 46 appearances for Scunthorpe and a further 8 on loan with Northampton Town before being released in the summer and Pools have now convinced him his future lies back in the North-East.