Hartlepool United captain Jack Hunter believes team-mate Jamie Miley can 'go as far as he wants to go' after making a solid start to the new National League season. The former Newcastle United youngster has now made over 60 appearances during the first 18 months of his time at Victoria Park and will be hoping to shine working under new head coach Lee Clark this season. League standing: 5th in National League, 6 pts, 2W-0D-1L from 3 games, recent form LWW. Goals this season: 4 scored, 2 conceded (+2 goal difference). Title race: 3 points behind leaders Southend. Hunter has been impressed with Miley's on and off-field attitude and insisted he can continue to thrive during his time with Pools. He told The Mail: 'Jamie can go as far as he wants to go. I think he's got a lot of the attributes needed to become a top player. He's really great to play alongside and I can't speak highly of him on the pitch - but off the pitch, which not everyone sees, he is a great lad and someone I enjoy spending time with. Obviously his brothers are doing well - but Jamie is his own player, his own person. They're a great family but he is a great footballer and we hope he can push on with Hartlepool over the next few years.' ## 'Promotion is the aim' After a major summer of change, Pools have made a positive start to their first season under Clark and a number of recent additions have already made an impact during the early weeks of the campaign. Hunter is determined to secure promotion and a return to the EFL and he stressed the new look Pools squad are all pushing for the same aim. He said: 'It might not always be pretty at times but all we care about is winning games of football and we have done that. As long as we keep doing that, we can get to where we want to be. Promotion is the aim, it's got to be, that's why we are all here. You don't want to put too much on us but promotion is why we are all at the club and that has to be the aim.' ## Experience Hunter was speaking to The Mail at a Newcastle United academy alumni event at St James Park as a whole host of former Magpies youngsters came together to take part in a darts competition put on by the Premier League club. He said: 'It's special that everyone can come together and enjoy something like this. Julie, who put it all together, has made a massive difference in the last couple of years bringing all of the former players back together. We've all been through the same experience and there are lads I know and some I don't - but we've been through the same experience and it shows there is life after Newcastle and nights like tonight prove it.'