Carlisle United have not ruled out running the rule over trialists in pre-season – having already looked at some players earlier this summer. 

The Blues squad have just returned to start preparations ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. 

While United have so far made three new signings, there is the possibility of trialists also on the training ground with Chris Beech’s squad. 

Carlisle took the trialist route to sign experienced midfielder Dean Furman last summer, for example, with other trialists a year ago having included Joe Fryer and Junior Mondal. 

They could again consider their options this time around having looked at a number of hopefuls shortly after the end of the 2020/21 season. 

Director of football David Holdsworth, asked about the prospect of trialists this time, said: “That’s something that may come to fruition. 

“As I have in the last three years, I held an extra week-10 days of training for some players [in May], and we introduced about six trialists into that from other clubs, who were being released. 

“One or two of them didn’t do themselves any harm whatsoever.” 

That training week saw young trialists involved with some of United’s young players such as Lewis Bell, Sam Fishburn and Gabriel Breeze. 

Holdsworth said a decision on which if any trialists to invite back will rest with head coach Beech. 

“Chris and Gavin [Skelton] are aware of the lads who came up,” he said. 

“I was very impressed with one or two of them. If they can have another opportunity, Chris will decide on that.” 

Holdsworth said United would need to be choosy when it came to inviting potential trialists into the building. 

“There are a lot of players being offered,” he said. 

“There is an abundance out there, but we don’t want to waste their time or our own. 

“With the size and strength of the squad already, we’re not looking for large numbers.”

Carlisle's players are back on the training ground after the return for pre-season training, including new boys Tristan Abrahams, Zach Clough and Corey Whelan.

Fit-again players including Morgan Feeney and Brennan Dickenson have also been involved.

United's official photo gallery of the opening day of training did not show Jon Mellish or Gime Toure, while out-of-contract Rhys Bennett was not at Brunton Park.