Towering defender Byron Webster says he is excited about the challenge of bringing his leadership qualities to Carlisle United.

The former Millwall man signed a one-year deal to add experience to the Blues’ back line.

Webster says he was impressed by manager Steven Pressley’s sales pitch as he weighed up his options after leaving Scunthorpe in May.

And it seems the Blues boss has earmarked 6ft 4in Webster to be a figurehead in his rebuilt squad.

“That’s something the manager spoke to me about, about helping the younger lads and so on,” Webster said.

“It’s definitely a thing I’m looking forward to doing.”

Webster has played most of his football in recent years in the Championship and League One.

His career includes two third-tier play-off final successes, with Yeovil and Millwall in 2013 and 2017 respectively.

He admits he had to mull over whether to drop down to the fourth tier, but the Yorkshireman feels the opportunity at United is the right one.

“I did think about it, I’m not gonna lie, but it had to be the right team, the right project,” he said.

“While I was away I sat down with my dad and my wife and we spoke about it – and when I met the manager [in London about a week ago] he came across as a great guy.

“He’s a big factor. When we sat down he was just so professional, with the videos he was showing me about how he wants to play, and what pre-season is going to consist of. It was very detailed and very exciting.”

Webster’s arrival brings a much-needed centre-half presence to an area which has seen a number of recent departures.

While Carlisle also signed Gateshead’s Jon Mellish earlier in the summer, they have seen Anthony Gerrard, Tom Parkes, Gary Liddle and Macaulay Gillesphey leave.

Webster added that he is looking forward to working under former centre-half Pressley – and believes he will be happy adapting to the high-energy style of play the manager wants.

“I’ll have to, otherwise I won’t be in the team!” he said.

“I’ve been at different teams that have had different styles and formations, and it’s nothing new.

“Pre-season is a long time when I’ll learn the way he wants to play, and do it his way.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can always learn. I’m sure he [Pressley] will drop a few tips in or bits of advice he wants to pass over, which is going to benefit me.”

Webster added that, having spent several recent years in London with Millwall, he was keen to join a club that was closer to his Yorkshire home.

He added: “I needed something to excite me, to get my teeth into. I could have gone places where you’re just ticking over. I don’t want to do that now.

“There are points where I want to have a bit of excitement, hopefully push on to the right end of the table and have a bit of fun.”

Webster started his career with York and had spells with Harrogate and Whitby before a spell with Czech side FK Banik Most in 2007.

The Yorkshireman returned to England with Doncaster two years later and had loan spells at Hereford and Northampton before a permanent move to the Cobblers.

He made 98 appearances for the Somerset side before a four-and-a-half year stint at Millwall, where Webster made 137 appearances, his time there also including a loan back to Yeovil in 2015.

After leaving Millwall in January this year, having recovered from a cruciate knee ligament injury, he spent the second half of 2018/19 with Scunthorpe, playing nine times as the Iron failed to avoid relegation to League Two.

United are now hoping to make progress with further signings.

They have not been drawn on reports strongly linking them with Gateshead midfielder Tom White, a former Blues youth team player.

Rumours linking United with striker Jermaine Beckford, meanwhile, are believed to be wide of the mark.