Carlisle United are interested in former Newcastle and Canada defender David Edgar.

The Blues are keen to take a look at the experienced 31-year-old as new boss Steven Pressley weighs up his defensive options.

Pressley, meanwhile, is also hoping to complete a deal for a midfielder in time for Carlisle’s trip to Port Vale this weekend.

Edgar could be an option for the Cumbrians as he seeks a new club following his departure from Canadian outfit Ottawa Fury.

The 42-cap player has been linked with trials at other clubs in England, including Sunderland and Walsall, in recent months.

United, though, would like to invite him to train at Brunton Park at a time they have injury concerns over fellow defenders Gary Liddle and Macaulay Gillesphey.

Ontario-born Edgar, whose father hails from the North East, started his career with the Magpies, then having spells at Swansea, Burnley, Sheffield United, Birmingham and Huddersfield.

Known as a versatile defender who can also play in midfield, he moved to Canada with Vancouver Whitecaps in 2016 and has since played for American side Nashville and latterly Ottawa.

On more immediate targets, meanwhile, Pressley said he is hopeful of adding to his promotion-chasing squad this week.

Having captured ex-Shrewsbury winger Arthur Gnahoua, Carlisle are now on the trail of an unnamed central midfielder.

“We are [working] on one in particular, we are making progress but there are just one or two things to be sorted there,” Pressley said.

“I’m hopeful that we can get another person in by the weekend.

“When I look at the group we probably need one more in that [midfield] area.”

Gnahoua, who joined on Monday, will be challenged to fulfil his potential at the Blues, Pressley added.

The 26-year-old signed until the end of the season and will be pushing for a place against Vale.

Pressley revealed that he spoke to his former Falkirk, Coventry and Fleetwood assistant John Eustace, who managed Gnahoua at Kidderminster, about the new boy before he joined the Blues.

“He’s had two training sessions [with us], and I think he certainly needs the training – that’s what my assessment would be at this moment in time,” said Pressley.

“He’s a Manchester boy, he travelled back with the car full [of other Carlisle players] from Manchester and I think they spent two and a half hours in a traffic jam, so he had a great first day at the club!”

He added: “We can create the atmosphere, we can create the environment for him to play in, but he also has to produce and that’s his responsibility.

“We’ll give him the platform, and place the demands on him, and he has to produce.

“We’ve seen a lot of qualities in him and we want him to bring that to games.

“I spoke to John Eustace at length about him - John had him at Kidderminster, he spoke very highly of him, about his ability.

“There’s another part to the game that I’ll push him on and he must respond positively to that.

“If he does, we’ve got a real player on our hands.”

The new United boss added: “He’s a quiet individual, Arthur – he’s not a vocal or a very loud individual, he’s one that I would say will do his talking on the pitch, but he’s a very pleasant lad and he’ll settle in very well in the dressing room.”