New captain Nick Anderton says he will take inspiration from former Carlisle United skipper Danny Livesey as he aims to lead the Blues from the front.

Anderton was handed the armband by Chris Beech and the ex-Blackpool man will be the figurehead for a new-look and youthful squad at Brunton Park.

And the defender says he will draw on his experience of playing under influential captains such as Livesey, who was a team-mate at Barrow.

Livesey, now at Chester, was a favourite at Brunton Park, playing 333 games for the Cumbrians, and Anderton said the centre-half’s influence has rubbed off.

“I’ve played with a lot of players who’ve had experience and been good captains,” Anderton said.

“For instance, Danny Livesey was great for me at Barrow. I saw how he did things on and off the pitch.

“When I was 18, and in Conference North, you could tell straight away the sort of player and leader he was. At the back he would head everything, be vocal and do everything on the pitch to win.

“He helped me massively as a player and a person. He was hard on me but that’s what you need.”

Anderton, 24, has spoken of his pride at being appointed skipper by head coach Beech and is looking forward to leading a squad which has eight new signings so far, with more expected as pre-season goes on.

The left-back, who joined in January, says he was ready for the role.

“I personally feel like it was a time in my career where I wanted to take on some sort of responsibility,” he said.

“I’ve loved every minute of being at the club so far and as captain I just want to set an example on the pitch first and foremost, being dedicated to trying to win, and making sure I am there if anyone needs to talk about anything off the pitch.

“We need to stay together as a club and a team and having that motivation will be important for everyone.”

Anderton, who made 10 appearances and scored two goals last term, says he is looking forward to being back in action after the long lay-off due to football being curtailed by Covid-19.

United are stepping up training with the new League Two season just over a month away.

The left-back said: “There is excitement at the moment.

“In the group we have a lot of lads of similar age who feel like they have something to prove as players. It maybe hasn’t gone well where they’ve been before, or they haven’t played as much because of injuries.

“I feel that is going to breed success for us and the squad is coming together now.”

Anderton said he kept himself in the best shape he could during the lockdown, but there is no substitute for being back on the training pitch.

“I was just trying to do my exercises when I could,” he said.

“Otherwise, my dad’s an agricultural contractor and I’ve been keeping busy helping him out – if I didn’t do that don’t know what I would have done.

“Mentally it’s been tough but I can’t imagine what it’s been like for some lads who’ve been out of contract. They have done exceptionally well to keep fit and be in the best position to sign at this stage of the summer.

“You can do as many runs and bits of ball work on your own but there’s nothing like being back with the lads, and I’m looking forward to being back on the pitch.”

Anderton also admitted it will be important for Carlisle to give their fans something to embrace on and off the pitch – even though supporters will not be able to attend the earliest games of the season.

“We know, whether there are fans there or not, it is our job to win those games,” he added.

“And as soon as we can do things in the community, that’s what we are going to do.

“Hopefully we will get off to a good start and, when fans can come back, they’ve got something to cheer about.”