CARLISLE United hero Derek Mountfield wants his old team to recover from their cup exit and reach the League Two play-offs this year – just over a decade after he helped the club to promotion to the third tier.

Centre-half Mountfield was part of Mick Wadsworth’s title-winning side of 1994-95, and made a return to Brunton Park to watch two of his old clubs, Carlisle and Everton, last weekend.

And Mountfield, who played for Carlisle in their debut Wembley appearance in his one and only season at the club, reckons Keith Curle’s side could be poised to make a serious push for the top seven.

“Keith and Colin [West] have got something going there and they seem to be on the up,” he said.

“From what I saw against Everton, there’s no reason why they can’t push on again.

“I think the occasion got to one or two of them, but they look a decent team, they played some decent football, and people I’ve been talking to have been quite pleased with the progress they’ve made.

“I just hope that they can push on and let’s see if they can make the play-offs or even automatic – you don’t know.

“Hopefully in the remaining 20 games or so of the season they can push on, progress and get some valuable wins, and hopefully get into those play-off spots.”

Much has been made of the games in hand that Carlisle currently have on some of their rivals, due to their cup engagements and postponements over the past month or so.

And Mountfield has warned that whatever advantage that may have handed Curle’s men will be worthless if it isn’t converted into points over the next month, when United have to play six games – starting today with the visit of Accrington Stanley.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen them all season, but I do always follow how they’re getting on,” he said.

“I’ve got the idea that they’ve had some outstandingly good performances and some very poor performances, but that’s just how football goes.

“I looked at the table and they’ve got three or four games in hand on some of the clubs above them, so they’ve got an opportunity with those games in hand.

“The old motto goes games in hand are not as good as points on the board.

“If they can win them, they might be back up into that top six.”