David Holdsworth has confirmed Carlisle United are in the market for more firepower.

The Blues want to sign additional goal threat after this week’s arrival of striker Tristan Abrahams.

United’s attack has been depleted recently with the loss of Offrande Zanzala, Omari Patrick and JJ Kayode.

Carlisle have spoken to further targets whilst also looking at possible loanees from the top two tiers.

Director of football Holdsworth said: “We’re delighted we’ve still got Brennan Dickenson, Lewi Alessandra, Gime Toure – and adding Tristan to that as a quartet is very positive.

“We’re hoping all those four boys score goals.

“It’s no surprise we’re [still] looking for strikers, or potential fluid forwards, who can also play out wide; that’s what Chris [Beech, head coach] likes to do.

“We’re very actively, every day, searching for the right one. There are one or two we’re having to be very patient with. But we’re hoping to add force and strike power.”

Holdsworth said patience could be required if United go down the loan route for more attacking players.

But he stressed that Carlisle did not want to repeat the approach of two summers ago, when the Blues waited on loan attacking targets for much of the pre-season before eventually signing Newcastle’s Elias Sorensen – a move that flopped.

Holdsworth added: “We’ll make decisions regarding those loan deals. I’m talking to Premier League and Championship clubs at the moment about one or two players, and hopefully Chris will get to meet those players.

“It’s sometimes a bit out of our hands but we’d much prefer them to be our players fighting for the three points.

“If they are in soon I’ll be delighted. I’d like that but it will come down to Chris’s decisions – he has to pick his players and we’ll get those deals done as soon as we can.”

United have targets in other positions, while Holdsworth has welcomed the arrival of ex-Newport, Leyton Orient and Norwich frontman Abrahams.

The striker signed a two-year deal on Monday.

Holdsworth said: “He’s lively, strong, ambitious and fits the bill.

“We didn’t know whether he would come all the way up from London to Carlisle but he’s confident about doing that.

“We’ve explained to him about the area – it’s a good city, with good people, and he’s bought into that. One of the other lads spoke to him after he signed, and we’ll help him integrate.

“He’s an eager young man to do well and we’ve given him a two-year deal to make him feel welcome, and hopefully he will hit the ground running.

“In my opinion he will love the area, the city – and playing on our big pitch.

“He’s a strong individual, and he will thrive on supply. The length of contract is because he’s young and it’s a platform for him to go on to a higher level or stay with Carlisle and go further with us.”