Carlisle United have today completed the signings of former Bury duo Hallam Hope and Kelvin Etuhu on two-year deals.

The pair were this morning confirmed as the Blues' second and third summer additions.

Both players are understood to have been early close-season targets for manager Keith Curle after their release by the Shakers.

They have finalised their moves in time for the start of pre-season training today.

Hope's return to Brunton Park comes after he made 25 loan appearances for the Blues in the 2015/16 season, scoring five goals.

It ends a long pursuit of the frontman by Curle, who failed to lure Hope back to United in January.

“Thinking about it, I’ve probably chased Hallam more than I’ve ever chased anyone else through my whole life - ex-wife, ex-partner and current girlfriend included!," Curle told United's website.

"He’s with us now and we’re looking forward to working with him again.”

Hope's previous spell with Carlisle often saw him playing on the left, but Curle today said he now planned to use the 23-year-old as a centre-forward.

“He has key attributes I like and I don’t think he’s been played enough in his favoured and natural position," Curle added.

“He started his career as a striker but his work ethic and understanding of the game has led to him being used out wide and behind the forwards, and I don’t think that’s allowed him to reach his full potential.

“That’s not to say we won’t utilise his other assets as well, but I think we’ve already had a tiny glimpse of what Hallam can do as a centre forward when he played for us against Notts County [on the final day of the 2015/16 campaign].

“I see him coming to us as a centre-forward to play either with Shaun Miller, or as a lone striker, or with one of the other forward options we’re looking to bring into the club.

“We need a goal scoring centre-forward and I think he can bring that to the mix for us. He knows the club, he knows how we work and he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“In my opinion he’s a player who can play in a much higher division than League Two."

The 29-year-old Etuhu also links up with United today.

The Nigeria-born midfielder started with Manchester City and has had spells with Portsmouth and Barnsley, as well as earlier loan moves to Rochdale, Leicester and Cardiff.

Curle said: "He has physical presence and he has very good dynamics.

"He can handle a football and he can play in a variety of different positions. He can sit in a holding two, or as the holding one, and he can also work within a two or three in more advanced positions.

“He needs to score more goals and play more games on a consistent basis. He has the key attributes and the profile of a very good player, but he needs to bring all of it together through a number of full and successful seasons in a team that's doing well.

“His work ethic is good and he's defence-minded in the way he approaches the game. He can cover the pitch and he has discipline in the way he plays.

"This is an opportunity for him to get into a team which is looking to make an impact in the top half of the division again."

The double arrival came a day after Carlisle confirmed the arrival of Jack Bonham on a six-month loan from Brentford.