David Holdsworth says promotion-chasing Carlisle United are poised to move in the January transfer window – but insists there won’t be lots of business done.

With the winter window about to open, the director of football said United’s focus will be on making careful additions to their high-flying squad rather than the glut of recruitment seen in previous windows.

United’s work in the market will be partly guided by their injury list and their hopes of retaining Rhys Bennett and Joshua Kayode.

The Blues have identified certain targets, with Holdsworth also not ruling out departures, but he said the focus will be on equipping Chris Beech’s squad to build on their positive first half of 2020/21.

Holdsworth said: “Chris and I have sat down and gone through many aspects of what we do need.

“In the January window there will be a few comings and goings. We are looking to strengthen in one or two positions but only one or two.

“Key to that will be Danny Devine and George Tanner getting fit as soon as they can. We have a high-quality player coming back [from injury] in Brennan Dickenson and we will look to potentially bring in Ethan Walker again [on loan from Preston] once he’s fit.

“Then, really, there will be only one or two. We’re only looking to add better, not just for the sake of it – we want to give Chris options to keep working the way he’s doing.

“Nothing dramatic will happen, but you never know. We’re not in a position now to struggle, we’re in a position to improve. That’s a reassuring thing for the manager.”

On the possibility of departures, Holdsworth said there was the “potential” for some movement. But he added: “If there are any departures, it will be on our terms.”

Holdsworth added: “We want to be strong and keep this squad together. If Chris wants a player to help the squad and who will buy into the squad, I will help him as much as I can.

“We’ve got a very good, honest squad and we’re not interested in changing the dynamics of that – it’s got to be the right person.”