Director of football David Holdsworth says Carlisle United are “working their socks off” to find the players who will help Steven Pressley make the Blues into a “leaner and fitter” side.

One of Pressley’s major criticisms of the team he inherited was the lack of conditioning in certain individuals.

Improving that aspect of the Blues is a key part of his recruitment strategy this close-season.

United are still waiting to add to their three signings to date with a host of new faces still needed.

They are hoping for a breakthrough this week after holding talks with a number of targets and offering deals.

Fans are eager to see players come through the door given the current thin nature of the first-team squad, with reports yesterday linking Swindon with a move for Blues forward Hallam Hope.

In response, United said they do not comment on speculation.

Holdsworth said that, when the next signings are made, they will fit the profile that Pressley wants in order to have a team in better shape for the 2019/20 campaign.

“We’ve got, at present, fingers in different pies,” Holdsworth said.

“Steven’s got a blueprint of what he wants in terms of the type of recruitment, and key to it is that we were successful in making sure we knew what he felt was going to get us out of this division.

“That’s coming down to a lot of hard work at the moment.

“We’re working extremely hard behind the scenes in terms of getting the type of profile of players Steven is looking at, and it’s ongoing.

“We’ve done well so far but we’re also not going to panic, because that’s not something I need to be addressing again at Christmas time.

“We want to develop a squad that’s youthful, has got legs, and with some experience.

“The key to the experience [side of things] is we’re looking for successful players – it’s mandatory they’ve had some wealth of knowledge of League Two and fill those credentials.

“We had a profile – taller, fitter, stronger, leaner. Those type of players are out there, and we’re working our socks off to bring that commodity.”

Pressley made little secret towards the end of last season of his disappointment in the fitness levels of some of his side.

After one of United’s defeats during their failed play-off push, against Grimsby, he said it was something he would tackle this summer.

He said: “I want to play intense football, pressure football, and to play that way you’ve got to be a fit team.

“That’s one area we’ll certainly address in the summer.

“When you have fatigue, when you’re maybe not at your level, the quality we look for in the final moments doesn’t sometimes come.”

United, meanwhile, have said they plan to “freshen up” this summer’s family fun day by holding it on the same day as one of their pre-season friendlies at Brunton Park.

The annual event, which allows fans to mix with players amid a range of other attractions, has traditionally been held on a Sunday during July.

This time, though, it is being staged on the morning of Saturday, July 20, the day Pressley’s side host Fleetwood in one of their warm-up games.

Chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “We thought we would try and do something different, and try and get some of the people who come to the fun day to stay and come to the game.

“Maybe it will encourage more people to watch the game, especially youngsters. Prices will be cheaper and it’s to try and freshen it up.”