Tom Miller says the entire Carlisle United squad must "stand up and be counted" if boss Keith Curle brings in new rivals for their places this month.

The Blues boss has put his players on notice that he is seeking fresh faces in order to boost their promotion push after back-to-back defeats.

And right-back Miller says he and his team-mates must be strong enough to rise to the challenge if extra competition for places is created by Curle.

He told the News & Star : "We all know it's that time of the season, and the gaffer's made it clear he's going to bring some help in.

"We've got to stand up and be counted, and if he brings in someone in our position we've got to make sure that we stand up to the challenge and compete for the place in the team.

"If you're not strong enough for those tests there's no point in being at a football club.

"It's competition for places and it maybe gives some people who need that boot up the bum that urgency to think, right, I've got to get my head down here and crack on.

"We've got good characters to respond and I'm sure we will do that."

Miller concedes that Carlisle's defensive record must improve after shipping seven goals in their last two games, and with no clean sheets since early October.

But, with the Blues still in a great position among the automatic promotion places, the 26-year-old also urged fans not to panic after just three league defeats all season.

Ahead of Saturday's home clash with Morecambe the right-back added: "I know the last two look like big defeats, but we've watched them back and we've had some good play within those games and some good chances.

"But we're conceding cheap goals - we know that. They're not goals where teams are working really hard to get them.

"That's something we need to work on. All the lads were very disappointed after the Colchester game - we were all downbeat because we're not used to losing this year, which is credit to everyone.

"But you brush it off and go again. We've got to make sure it doesn't happen again and we get out of this little run as quickly as possible, because we've still got such a good chance to do so much this season.

"Nobody's worried. We're not worried as a club and the fans shouldn't be worried. They've been brilliant for us, so the message is to just stick by us, and as players and staff we'll all get through it.

"We've got to put it right on Saturday. It's a big game, at home, and a big opportunity for us to get back to what we're good at."