Carlisle United have signed Morecambe forward Lewis Alessandra until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old has left United's fellow League Two strugglers to sign a short-term deal at Brunton Park.

The experienced attacking player joins two days after the Cumbrians sold fellow frontman Hallam Hope to Swindon.

Alessandra is set to be in Chris Beech's squad to face Walsall tomorrow.

The well-travelled frontman, who can play in wide positions or down the middle, left the Globe Arena outfit last night after the expiry of his contract.

It is believed his deal at United is with a view to a longer stay.

He is known to Beech, having made 11 appearances for Rochdale in 2015/16 during the Carlisle boss's time as No2 at Spotland.

The Cumbrians' head coach will hope Alessandra can improve his side's attacking threat in order to fend off the threat of relegation.

He scored five goals in 26 appearances for the Shrimps - currently League Two's bottom side - having rejoined the Lancashire club last summer.

All five goals came in the early weeks of the campaign under previous boss Jim Bentley, with Alessandra not figuring for the last month under new manager Derek Adams.

He had previously spent two seasons with Notts County, scoring 10 goals in 77 outings, including one at Brunton Park for the Magpies last season.

Before that he was with Hartlepool, who he joined in 2016 from Rochdale.

Alessandra started at Oldham before joining Morecambe in 2011, later having a two-year spell at Plymouth.

He could face his former club when Morecambe visit Brunton Park on February 22.

Carlisle are four points above the Shrimps in the League Two table.