The latest member of Carlisle United's backroom staff got his first taste of a Blues game at the weekend.

James Counsell has joined the Cumbrians as an assistant first-team physio.

And he was part of things for the first time at the League One game at Northampton Town on Saturday.

Counsell assisted head physiotherapist Chris Brunskill at the game.

News and Star: James CounsellJames Counsell (Image: Richard Parkes)

His role involved attending to Dan Butterworth when the Blues attacker suffered a calf injury in the first half.

Both Brunskill and Counsell came on to give treatment to Butterworth before he was substituted.

Counsell joined the Blues last week as the club looks to expand their physio and medical department.

His arrival also coincided with the news that Brunskill is set to leave Brunton Park at the end of the season. United are advertising for a new head physio.

Counsell joins Carlisle from Blackpool, where he has been head of academy sports science and medicine and previously a sports rehabilitator.

News and Star: Chris Brunskill and James Counsell attend to the injured Dan Butterworth at NorthamptonChris Brunskill and James Counsell attend to the injured Dan Butterworth at Northampton (Image: Richard Parkes)

He has also worked with Manchester City and Oldham Athletic, as well as for the NHS.

Counsell is the latest in a number of new faces on Paul Simpson's United backroom staff this season.

Earlier in the campaign Simpson's son Jake joined as head of performance, with Adam Kwiecien also arriving as strength and conditioning coach.

First-team analyst Glenn Boden is another recent addition, as is kitman Bryan Rosary.

Moving on from the backroom set-up during the campaign have been previous S&C coach Jamie Roper and long-serving kitman Colin Nixon.

Brunskill will leave after the end of the season, with Simpson saying the Cumbrian has decided to depart the Blues for family reasons.

He has been head physio at the club since December 2022, having replaced Ross Goodwin in the role.

“I’m delighted James is starting with us, disappointed Chris is going but I’m just hoping we can get some good applicants when they see what we are planning to do with the football club," said Simpson.