Last updated at 12:10, Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Carlisle United’s top marksman Lee Miller reckons rookie striker Rory Loy will help the Blues forget all about the loss of Francois Zoko.

Rory Loy, left and Lee Miller

Loy is earmarking a return to action in pre-season after missing the last four-and-a-half months of 2011/12 with a broken leg he suffered at Preston on Boxing Day.

The devastating injury curtailed a promising campaign in which the ex-Rangers youngster had forced his way into the United first team, keeping Zoko on the bench for the first half of the season.

The 24-year-old forged an impressive understanding with Miller and JP McGovern in United’s three-man attack, before his injury at Deepdale saw Zoko reclaim his place on the left of Carlisle’s front line.

Miller, who is himself recovering from a hernia operation after missing the final month of the season with a groin injury, believes fellow Scot Loy will fill the gap left by Zoko, who quit the club at the end of the season.

“Rory is more than capable of playing that role,” said Miller.

“He kept Francois out of the team, which speaks volumes for him.

“Rory had a nightmare injury but hopefully he can get a good pre-season under his belt and see what happens from there.”

Miller hopes he can repeat last season’s 15-goal tally to help fire Carlisle to the League One play-offs after returning to fitness.

The news that the 29-year-old former Middlesbrough, Aberdeen and Dundee United striker is fit and firing will come as a boost to the Blues, who badly missed him as their play-off bid faltered with four defeats in their last five games.

Miller admits quitting Middlesbrough was one of the best decisions he has ever made, and he hopes to cap his dream move to Carlisle by helping them secure a play-off spot.

He said: “I hope I can repeat the goals.

“I’m a confident lad and I know what my capabilities are and the manager knows them as well.

“I won’t put pressure on myself if I don’t score in the first three games.

“As long as you are working hard, you are always learning from the manager, coaches and players.

“We went so close to the play-offs last season but we didn’t quite have the depth of squad needed to stay up there with the big boys after we got injuries.

“Hopefully if we have everybody fit and with the couple of new signings, we can strive to do a little bit better.

“I don’t see why we can’t because we were so close last year.”

Miller and Loy are expected to have a run out when United start their pre-season campaign on Friday when they travel to Kendal Town for their opening friendly.

First published at 11:31, Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk