There is a new squad number and, for Jamie Devitt, the hope of a more central part in Carlisle United's fortunes. The approach of the midfielder's second season at Brunton Park brings some honest admissions and a focus on better things.

Having changed number from 17 to 11, Devitt also wants to come in from the fringes with the Blues. He did make 43 appearances in 2016/17 but the 27-year-old accepts he did not establish himself in the way he had intended.

He describes this frustration as fuel for improvement now. "I think it's probably the worst season I've ever had since I've turned professional," he says. "It was really, really frustrating.

"I need to start afresh this season, and show people what I can do, because I don’t think I did that last year.

"Some people probably think I was a bad signing last year. Hopefully this year is different and I can turn all opinions around."

United recruited Devitt last summer as one of the most inventive players in League Two. With Morecambe the Irishman had gained a reputation as an expert unlocker of defences. Carlisle themselves had been picked apart by Devitt in the recent past.

A red card on his debut, at Portsmouth, was a regrettable start and as Keith Curle's team built a record-breaking unbeaten start to the league season, Devitt often found himself on the bench.

As things went on he became gradually more involved, albeit often featuring in orthodox central midfield or wide rather than what seemed his most effective position in Lancashire: in attacking midfield, with licence to create.

While Nicky Adams became Carlisle's main assists merchant, Devitt hopes he is a second-season signing who delivers more after a year in the ranks. "That's the plan, definitely after last year," he says.

"I'd even go as far as saying that if I'd only signed a year at the club, I probably wouldn't be here this year, because of how bad I'd done last year.

"I need to show the gaffer now this year what I am about, and I know I can do it. I know I've got the ability to do that."

Asked how he can raise his chances of a better 2017/18, Devitt says he has reported back for pre-season much fitter than he did last year. This followed a close-season when the anguish of United's play-off defeat to Exeter was overridden by some happy personal weeks for Devitt.

"I got married in the summer and then went to Disneyland with the little fella, so it's been one of the best summers I've ever had," he says. "But in between, I did everything I could to get ready, and I think that puts me in good shape for the start of the season.

"For the first few weeks [of the summer], all you have in your mind is the play-offs, stuff like that. But that quickly goes out of your head. It has to. When you come back in, last season has to be gone.

"Personally and as a group, it didn’t go as we wanted. I'm looking forward to getting going again, and getting my head down ready."

Devitt has been central so far in United's pre-season games. His highlight so far has been a fine free-kick goal at Penrith, while his ball-playing opened up Blyth Spartans on Saturday. The challenges will increase, while new signings have altered the feel of the squad in certain places.

While Carlisle have not recruited heavily, they have brought in Jack Bonham, Kelvin Etuhu, Hallam Hope and Tom Parkes. "We were only talking the other day that, already, there's competition for places, and it's really good," Devitt says.

"There's obviously more faces to come in as well, so it should be an enjoyable period leading up to the season. Last pre-season I think the gaffer had everything done before we even came in. So, it is different this year, but the personnel he has brought in at the minute is of very good quality.

"In the dressing room before the game [at Carlisle City, United's first friendly], the first thing we all said was, 'This is the start, this is where we have to make an impression on the manager for the first game of the season'. We're all trying to give the manager a headache for that game."

United's midfield is well-stocked, and there will be a debate about where Devitt best fits into Curle's ideal starting XI for Swindon on August 5. Asked about his preferred role, he smiles. "If the manager wants to put me centre-half, I'll play centre-half," he says, "but I want to be as high up the pitch as I possibly can, because I think that’s my best position.

"If the manager wants me to play in a deeper role, he's the manager at the end of the day. But I would like to play high up the pitch. Having said that, for me it doesn’t really matter. Wherever we play we all still need to go and perform. As long as we're getting on the ball, that's all I want to do, and hopefully I can do more of that this year."

The collective aim is to build a more consistent promotion push. United set off like a train last season but then came off track in the new year. Devitt, though, also believes that periods even in that great unbeaten run can be improved.

"The main thing this year for us is turn some of those draws we had into wins," he says. "If we can do that it will push us even further up the table.

"That's the plan, to improve a little bit, turn losses into draws and the draws into wins. Hopefully we can do that and find ourselves up at the top of the table.

"Some people might think [the squad] is not as good as last year at the minute, because we've not signed everybody. But as a group we're 100 per cent confident. The XI that started last season is still more or less there and we've brought some extra quality as well. You can't look too far away from that.

"We obviously need to keep the squad fit. We had some injuries at key parts last year that didn’t help."

The feeling that United have yet to see the best of Devitt is powerful, and it seems nobody wishes to change this in 2017/18 more than the man himself.

"I'm probably my worst critic," he says. "My missus will probably tell you that when I go home after a game, I won't talk for the night if things haven't gone my way or the team's way.

"I'm just looking forward to the start of the season and putting things right, to be honest."