Nathan Thomas says he expects to build on his goalscoring impact for Carlisle United – now he is getting to grips with boss Steven Pressley’s demands.

Thomas broke his Blues duck in their draw at Forest Green as he showed signs of the ability that persuaded Carlisle to move for him in January.

The Sheffield United loanee admits it has taken him time to adjust to the role demanded of him by Pressley.

But the 24-year-old says he has benefited from further talks with Carlisle’s boss and hopes to make further big contributions to United’s play-off push.

“It’s about taking opportunities when you get the chance to play,” Thomas said.

“I’ve been a little bit frustrated so far, and feel I’ve maybe deserved a bit more game time, but I’ve been patient, have worked hard and took my opportunity when I got it.

“It’s about building on it now and putting in performances week-in, week-out.

“Before, I was maybe a bit confused – it’s a different way of playing 4-3-3 to what I’ve played in the past, so it’s been a case of getting to grips with how the gaffer wanted me to play.

“Maybe I struggled a little bit at first, but we’ve sat down a few times, he showed me what he expects of me and I feel the more games I’ve played it’s got better and better.”

Thomas’ 49th-minute strike at Forest Green earned Carlisle a point and the former Hartlepool favourite admitted he was relieved to see the ball hit the back of the net after he failed to take several first-half chances.

It was only his second goal of the campaign, his other coming for previous loan club Notts County.

Thomas said: “You can’t keep eating yourself up over missed opportunities, even though you feel like you’ve let the team down a bit when you miss them.

“You’ve got to move on and hopefully finish the next one.

“It was such a relief when it hit the net. It was the one I didn’t have much chance to think about; it was the more instinctive finish of the opportunities I had.

“People say the first [goal] is always the hardest one [to get] and I think it probably is. I now want to get a few more before the season finishes, for myself and to help the team.”

Thomas feels that, although Carlisle were frustrated not to turn a good display into three points at the New Lawn, it helped them put their previous poor showing against Notts behind them, and restore confidence ahead of this weekend’s clash with Cambridge.

He added: “It was important that, as much as the result, we put on a performance after we let ourselves down last Tuesday.

“We’ve definitely put that one to bed now. Saturday was was the polar opposite – from a team bottom of the league and struggling [Notts] to one of the teams in the play-offs where we want to be, and arguably the best footballing team in the league [Forest Green].

“They are the most possession-based team in the league and I think we made them look ordinary for long stretches of the game.

“We were disappointed we didn’t come away with the three but it’s something to build on.”

Thomas, whose sub display against Notts was a rare plus point on an otherwise dismal night, believes he has shown glimpses of his best form in recent games.

But the attacker, who started on Saturday, admits there is more to come.

“I think there’s been bits over the past couple of games when people have seen me at my best, but I always feel there’s more no matter how well you play,” he said.

“It’s just about consistently doing it, with repetitions of different movements, and doing it week-in, week-out.”

United, a point outside the play-off places, know they must beat their struggling visitors this weekend in order to capitalise on Saturday’s point against a play-off rival.

“Now we’re down to single figures in terms of games, and we’ve got a goal of what we want to achieve,” he said.

“Although we were disappointed not to beat Forest Green, we might look back on it being a really good point in eight games’ time.

“It’s all about getting results. You can sacrifice performance a little bit for three points now.

“[It’s important] the play-off pack don’t pull away, because then you’re counting on teams dropping points all the time and it’s not in your hands.

“It’s still massively in our hands at the moment. There’s a lot of football to be played, and it’s up to us how much we want to actually challenge and get promoted.

“It will be a massive game on Saturday. Pressure is on every week and we’ve got to perform every week. More than anything we need the result now.”

United tonight face Bransty Rangers in a bid to reach the Cumberland Cup final for the first time in four years. A mostly young side, plus senior men in need of more game time such as Jason Kennedy, will be involved in the semi-final at Penrith’s Frenchfield Park (7.30pm).