Published at 13:18, Friday, 29 June 2012

Greg Abbott will run the rule over eight trialists from next Thursday as he bids to unearth another Francois Zoko.

The Carlisle United manager revealed he had invited a host of players to join his squad for the first week of pre-season training.

And Abbott hopes he can enjoy similar success with at least one of the new faces as he did when Zoko became a left-field success story two summers ago. The Ivorian has since left the Blues but is a good example of how a trialist can catch the eye.

Abbott – who plans to use all the trialists in the first friendly at Kendal on Friday, July 13 – said: “The eight coming in are from different levels and will have to do a lot to be better than we've got.

“But we've decided not to bring anyone who we don’t think has a serious chance of making it with us.

“They are from good sources but you also have to weigh up that they are without a club for a reason.

“Some are younger and have lost their way a bit at their clubs.

“We will have a look next Thursday and Friday and then the full week.

“If they are still there by the third week of pre-season it will mean we have been really impressed.”

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