Steven Pressley says he would not take Jamie Devitt back at Carlisle United if he is made available by Blackpool.

The former Blues favourite was left out of the Tangerines’ squad for their opening game amid speculation he is not in the immediate plans of boss Simon Grayson.

Pressley said he is aware of rumours that Blackpool may make midfielder Devitt – who joined in the summer under previous Bloomfield Road boss Terry McPhillips - available for a loan move.

But United’s boss said he would not pursue a return for the Irish schemer.

Asked if he was aware of speculation regarding Devitt, Pressley said: “I’ve heard [that], but I’ve had no contact from his representative or Blackpool.

“But the situation would be no, we wouldn’t take Jamie back at this moment in time, and for a couple of reasons.

“I spoke at the recent question-and-answer [fans’ forum] and said Jamie was a player that, if he had signed with us, we would have adopted a certain way of playing, and the recruitment would therefore have been different.

“Also the final piece of the jigsaw here is a player [a striker] that will provide us with greater threat behind, rather than what Jamie brings.

“It’s a particular type of player that I’m looking at.”

Devitt, who turned down a new deal at Brunton Park this summer after three years with the club, featured for Blackpool’s under-23s in midweek and will be hoping for a first-team role at Southend today.

Carlisle, meanwhile, will come up against another ex-Blue at Swindon today in striker Jerry Yates. The Rotherham loan frontman turned down United in favour of the Robins.

Pressley admits Yates will be a danger today but is also pleased with the options at his own disposal.

He said: “I didn’t work with Jerry, I came in here after he’d left, but he’d made a real impression on the coaching staff, the players and our supporters.

"There’s no doubt he’s a very good player. But I’m very pleased with what we have in our club and I think, given time, the players will prove to be really good signings for this team.”

United’s boss says this afternoon’s game at the County Ground will provide some early-season evidence of his new-look team’s capabilities.

He feels Richie Wellens’ hosts are among the fancied sides in League Two this term.

Pressley said: “I think they’ve recruited well and they’ve got good players for the division.

“Based on what I’ve seen of them and based on what they’ve brought in, I think they’ll be one of the teams that fancy their chances of promotion

“I think that in itself gives us a really good benchmark – an away game for us against one of the favourites this early on the season will certainly give us an idea of where we stand.”

Pressley must decide whether to stick with the side that beat Crawley last weekend or make changes.

Former Swindon midfielder Canice Carroll will be hoping for a call-up if Pressley opts for an extra defensive body in Carlisle’s midfield.

Like Carlisle, the Robins won their opening League Two game – a 2-0 victory at Scunthorpe – while Pressley watched their Leasing.com Trophy defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday night.

He said: “That game gave me a little insight but there were a number of changes in shape and personnel. We don’t know fully how they’ll go but we can only prepare on the two games we’ve seen thus far.

“Based on what we’ve seen they’re a very good transitional team, quick on the counter-attack, they have two quick wide players, with Jerry Yates through the middle, who has good pace, and Keshi Anderson behind him.

“The front four all have really good speed and mobility and we have to be prepared for that.

“We have to make sure we make the correct decisions and take the correct periods of time when we’re in possession, because that’s when they’re at their most dangerous – when you’re in possession.

“We have to ensure we go about our business correctly and effectively. If we do that we can go there and get the right result.

“The pitches are excellent at this time of year, it’s a big pitch and I think it will make a very good game of football.”