Carlisle United start bid to bounce back - as pre-season training begins

Some 58 days after their last game of the 2023/24 relegation season, Carlisle United start their bid to bounce back in earnest today.

Paul Simpson and his squad are back for the start of pre-season training at Brunton Park this morning.

The early fitness testing and football work will get under way with four new faces in the squad - amid attempts to add more signings.

It will be a first chance for Terell Thomas, Cameron Harper, Jude Smith and Aaron Hayden to get acquainted with their new team-mates.

For defender Hayden, it is his first pre-season at United since the summer of 2021, following his return for a second spell with the club.

Carlisle will begin 2024/25 preparations on their training pitch at Brunton Park which has been the subject of improvement work this summer, including new drainage.

Terell Thomas is one of four new signings checking in for pre-season at Carlisle (Image: PA)

It will be the setting for the build-up to a new League Two campaign which gets under way in 47 days' time.

The start of training will also be overseen by a number of new staff at United, with goalkeeping coach Glen Johnson and head physio Sophie Birnie starting life with the Cumbrians.

The reappointed joint assistant manager Billy Barr will also be present as he continues his second stint with the Blues, alongside fellow No2 Gavin Skelton under Simpson.

Most of United's first-team players are expected to be involved other than those on the comeback trail from serious injuries, such as Callum Guy and Jack Robinson.

It has not yet been confirmed whether Simpson will be running the rule over trialists in the early stages of pre-season, with United's programme of friendlies starting at Penrith on Friday week.

Billy Barr will be on hand for the start of pre-season after signing a new deal as joint assistant manager (Image: Barbara Abbott)

A higher priority is expected to be the further recruitment of more permanent signings, with the creative and attacking areas of the squad likely to be a focus after the more defensive accent on the close-season additions.

Hayden and Thomas will be staking their claim for central defensive places, with Harper a new option on the left of defence or wing-back, with Smith set to provide competition for fellow goalkeepers Harry Lewis and Gabe Breeze.

United will learn their new league season fixtures at 9am on Wednesday, with the Carabao Cup first round draw made the following day and the Blues' group stage opponents in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy also finalised on Thursday.

Carlisle's new kit will also be revealed on Wednesday.