We want a couple more, says Carlisle Utd boss after glut of signings

The Blues have not yet completed their business despite unveiling Peter Grant, Callum O’Hare and Nathan Thomas in the space of an hour.

They are still keen to add another attacker and a midfielder before Thursday’s deadline.

Pressley said the wave of new signings showed the club were serious about making the most of Carlisle’s promotion chance.

“The players – especially in the last couple of weeks when we’ve been really thin on the ground - have played exceptionally well and brought a couple of really positive results,” he said.

“But it was really important we bolstered the squad in support of those players. With the recent acquisitions, plus if we get another two in, I think we’re in a good position to mount a serious push.”

Pressley said he remains keen to bring in the unnamed midfielder he mentioned last week.

He said: “Yes, that’s still a possibility - an attacking type [midfielder].

“We’ll bring real competition to the group, because with 16 games to go, we don’t want to be short in any area.

“We want to create a really competitive group and hopefully achieve our goals.”

Although United now have five loan players in their ranks – the maximum they could include in a matchday 18-man squad - they still see Rotherham forward Jerry Yates as a priority.

Pressley said: “It’s a waiting game. I heard rumours [on Monday] they were close to signing a player, and I thought yeah, maybe here we go, but I haven’t heard anything else [so far].

“We respect their situation, they have to look after themselves as a club. If they get the right player in, we’re hopeful he [Yates] will come back.

“David [Holdsworth, director of football] and I are constantly talking, as are the rest of our staff, about potential players. Sometimes in this situation it’s not easy because everybody’s pushing and pushing.

“We do have to be careful. Yates is a main target but we have to have a fall-back situation. We do have to make sure we don’t end up with nothing.

“Deadline day could be a very interesting day. But we’ll get a feel. Tommy [Wright, assistant manager] is really close with a number of the staff at Rotherham so I think they’ll give him a real steer on things.

“In that respect, hopefully we shouldn’t end up with nothing.”

Pressley said he was delighted with United’s quickfire business which saw Plymouth defender Grant first join on a permanent deal after cancelling his Home Park contract.

He was followed by 20-year-old Aston Villa midfielder O’Hare on loan for the rest of the season – with Sheffield United winger Thomas then joining on a similar deal.

The latter terminated a season-long loan with Notts County in order to join the Cumbrians.

All three could be in the squad to face Crewe this weekend, with the week’s other addition, Monday’s signing Mark Cullen, two weeks from contention as he returns from injury.

Pressley added: “I’m pleased thus far and hopefully it bring again some excitement, some optimism to our supporters and hopefully we can deliver that success that they so desperately want.

“David’s worked hard with the board to create funds available. I think they deserve credit for that.”

He added: “Coming in here I was aware I’d have the opportunity to sign a number of players, but I suppose I didn’t envisage the opportunities that have been created.

“It’s really positive for the supporters. The expectation probably wasn’t there [from fans] that we’d have the funds available to sign these players but David has worked hard on that.

“Only time will tell if they’re the right players but on paper I would suggest we have recruited the players that are suited for the team.

“Thus far we’ve brought in four that were very high on our list of priorities.”

Grant provides cover for Macaulay Gillesphey, who is due to have a knee operation tomorrow.

Fellow defender Gary Liddle, Pressley said, is “making good progress” from his knee injury and is due to be back on the training pitch next Monday.

United’s arrivals come after the departures of previous loan favourites Jack Sowerby and Ashley Nadesan.

Asked if there was any lingering chance of the Fleetwood pair returning, Pressley said: “In football, never rule anything out.

“But if you’re asking me at this moment in time, the likelihood is both players will remain at Fleetwood.

“Nadesan’s played the last couple of games, Jack they’ll be intent on putting him back in, so the likelihood is neither of them will return.

“Again, as you know in football, things change on that deadline day, so never say never.”