Chris Beech has said he will continue to target “young, hungry” players as he continues his efforts to reshape Carlisle United's squad.

Beech has made four January signings so far, Nick Anderton the latest yesterday.

The Blackpool defender, 23, followed Joshua Kayode, Max Hunt and Elliot Watt into Brunton Park since the winter transfer window opened.

Kayode and Anderton are set to be in the squad for the first time when United face Oldham tomorrow, while ex-Derby defender Hunt – cup-tied for Wednesday’s 4-3 defeat to Cardiff – comes back into the equation.

With Beech having also yesterday handed a new 18-month deal to defender Aaron Hayden, following the recent contract extension for Gethin Jones, the signs are that the head coach is steadily putting his stamp on the squad he inherited.

Beech said young players with something to prove will remain in his sights.

On Rotherham loan striker Kayode, he said: “He is a hungry, ambitious young man, along with Max...these are the type of players I want to recruit.

“There is no second conversation on convincing them to come. Once they’ve had that football chat, once David [Holdsworth, director of football] has done the financial business terms, it all ties in.”

Kayode’s arrival on Wednesday took United’s quota of loan players to six. Carlisle can only name five in a matchday squad.

Asked about the prospect of any current loanees leaving Brunton Park, Beech said: “Who knows. No loan player wants to be in Carlisle and not playing football.

“Just as it’s up to many parties to try and recruit, it is [also] up to many parties to actually try and leave.

“I didn’t do the loan deals, so it is what it is. You are allowed to take as many as you want, but you can only have five [in the matchday squad].

“At the moment we’ve got a little bit of space in terms of recruitment. We’ve all been crying out for more attacking play – when you look at [Wednesday] you have to question why – but we have, and we’re strengthening with the right players, ambitious players, young players.

“Max Hunt’s an ambitious man. Josh wants to come here and make a difference. I’m trying to recruit other players too.”

Beech would not be drawn when asked if Monday’s sale of Jarrad Branthwaite to Everton could enable United to look at costlier targets this month than had initially been the case.

He added that attempts to bring Kayode to Brunton Park had been ongoing three weeks ago, the forward having been recalled from a loan with National League North side Gateshead before joining Carlisle.

On the 19-year-old Millers striker, who will make his Football League debut if selected at Oldham, the Blues head coach added: “He’s gonna be a frontline runner, hopefully that can run and run and run some more, getting in behind League Two defenders.

“He’s a big boy, and a young boy. He’s grown into his body, he went to Gateshead on purpose to get bashed about, I think that was part of the loan, Rotherham’s tactic to do it. I think he’ll bring us some physicality, some pace, be able to run and run some more, and the big one is goals.”

Beech also praised his backroom staff for their efforts in helping identify Kayode as a potential signing.

He added: “He’s young, ambitious, has done very well at Gateshead and I’ve a good relationship with Richie [Barker, assistant manager] at Rotherham, and I knew about his possible opportunity to recruit.

“So we did our due diligence, we had him watched as well, which I thank the other staff for doing, because we’re playing football matches at the same time and we don’t have a head scout, a chief scout, so youth team managers, etc, are going above and beyond their duties to make sure they support us. That’s part of that united football club feeling.”

United, with their new faces, will aim to complete a league double over Dino Maamria’s Latics tomorrow and move nine points clear of the League Two relegation place.

Defeat, though, could take them just three points above the bottom, after fellow strugglers Morecambe and Stevenage picked up points in midweek.

Defender Hayden returns from suspension tomorrow and the former Wolves man is now contracted until the summer of 2021.

A good travelling support is expected at one of United’s closer away games at Boundary Park, Beech having been impressed with the backing his side got at Brunton Park in Wednesday’s cup tie.

He said: “It’s chicken or the egg, isn’t it – the lads have to do a little bit, the guys that support them…at some clubs they’re very loud and vocal to start with, which creates the atmosphere.

“I understand, talking to people around town, there’s been a bit of negativity and despondency. I want the club to unite, support each other, and with any little mini-victory – even in failure [on Wednesday], we were victorious in terms of how we supported each other – that can only put us in good stead for the future if we buy into it.”