Boss Keith Curle has hailed physio Neil Dalton as a miracle-worker for getting Tom Parkes back on the pitch just three days after an ankle injury.

The new Carlisle United defender got through 120 minutes at Fleetwood on Tuesday despite having limped off on his debut against Swindon.

Manager Curle said the centre-half had shown a determined attitude to play when other players may have preferred not to risk it.

He also praised physio Dalton for his work with the summer signing.

"Sometimes you have to listen to the medical advice, and everything was done over the weekend to get movement back into the ankle," Curle said.

"Dolly's worked miracles again, but ultimately it's down to the player.

"That shows what we've invested in in Tom Parkes. You'd probably say with the size of his ankle, the bruising, the swelling, some players would look down and say, no, I might need an extra couple of days.

"But Tom knows he's come here and this is a challenge for him, and he's not going to let his position in the team go because of a little bit of discomfort.

"That's very pleasing. You leave it to the player's decision - can you give me a performance that's worthy of wearing the shirt? He tells me yes, and he wants to play. That's good enough for me."

Parkes enjoyed a solid game in Carlisle's extra-time Carabao Cup victory and his quick return to fitness has eased immediate concerns about a lack of numbers at the back for the Blues.

Curle, though, insists he is continuing to monitor targets.

"Myself, the head of recruitment Lee Dykes, along with Simon Tracey and Colin West - this evening we will be at game," Curle said.

"We're always on the lookout to improve. We know where we're shopping, that's the pleasing thing, -we're not swanning around Harrods thinking 'what if'.

"We know the market quite well, we know the qualities that are available and we know what we're looking for."

Curle, though, said he has missed out on a player he had been chasing as cover for injured winger John O'Sullivan.

The manager said: "He [the target] had another option that suited him. It wasn't financial - it suited him to get more game time, so you have to abide by that."

United say they still waiting for confirmation of what they will receive from Brad Potts' recent transfer from Blackpool to Barnsley.

Carlisle had a sell-on clause in the midfielder's deal at Bloomfield Road.

Loan keeper Shamal George is expected back with the squad for the trip to Cambridge on Saturday having been on an England training camp this week.

Curle said: "It's something that was pencilled in and agreed with Liverpool. Any player that gets the opportunity to go and train with England, you don't give it up lightly."