New Carlisle United club captain Nick Anderton says he can’t wait to put his leadership skills to the test.

United manager Chris Beech appointed the 24-year-old to lead the dressing room and it is an appointment he was delighted to accept.

“It’s a massive honour,” he told the club website. “I’m just delighted. The gaffer told me last week that he wants me to lead the team forward as skipper and it is a big responsibility, but it’s one I’m really looking forward to taking on.

“Since I came to the club in January I’ve tried to be a leader from the back, and there’s a few lads in the squad that the gaffer could have picked to be captain.

“It won’t just be me who will act as a skipper on the pitch on a Saturday, we’ve got a few lads in the dressing room with those qualities and we’ll all have to play our part in taking us up the table.

“I’m looking forward to the added responsibility. In football there comes a time where you’re seen as a more experienced pro, and you have to take responsibility on and off the pitch, whether you’re captain or not.

“I feel like it’s at a stage in my career where it’s going to do me good and I’ll hopefully thrive as a player because of it as well.

“My age isn’t a factor. I think everybody looks at me and thinks I’m older than 24, and the lads give me a bit of stick for that, but I suppose I am fairly young in terms of becoming a captain. Like I say, I feel like it’s the right time for me to take something like this on.”

Anderton says he is naturally vocal on the pitch and is keen to pass his experience down the line at Brunton Park.

He added: “All through last year I was happy to be vocal on the pitch and in the dressing room, and I suppose the gaffer has seen that in me.

“With the other lads at the back especially, I always try and help in whatever way I can. I’ve had experience of playing at a lower level, as well as playing at an academy and having to drop down to non-league, and I feel like you always learn the hard way.

“I want to pass my experience onto young lads like Max [Hunt] for instance. He’s been at an academy but played in non-league, so he’s in a similar position that I was in just a few years ago.

“The gaffer has told me to do the things I’ve already been doing since I came in in January. He wants me to be vocal and get behind the lads, but also lead by how I play on the pitch as well.

“Another big part of it is our relationship with the community as a group of players. It’s important the fans feel involved and that they can see what we’re trying to do.”