Chris Beech says he will only consider adding a free agent to his Carlisle United squad if he is sure they can make a big difference.

The Blues can still move for unattached players after the closure of the transfer window last week.

Some clubs have already brought in such players, like today’s opponents Crawley who could hand a debut to experienced defender Joel Lynch.

Other players are on the market – but United head coach Beech said he won’t add to his tightly-knit squad unnecessarily.

“I think we’ve got a good squad that supports each other well,” he told the News & Star.

“It’s important if anybody does become available that way, they’ll be able to help enhance what we are.

“At the same time, although these lads [free agents] can be training hard, possibly with clubs or on their own, it’s really difficult to get up to speed at the point of making the difference.

“I live in Lancashire and was reading about players training at Preston for example. I was reading the report of a reserve game on Tuesday, about how Connor Wickham did ever so well [but] tired in the game…

“It’s important when you look at players that they’ll be able to make a difference if that is the case.

“I’m happy with everybody we’ve got, I’ve got to keep pushing everybody as they push me, but if somebody out there’s going to make us better I’d be foolish not to have a phonecall.”

United moved in the free agent market last autumn for defender Rhys Bennett who became a key player in the Cumbrians’ side.

The Carlisle head coach said: “I think that was a unique situation.

“He came in and grabbed it with both hands and fully embraced what was going on.

“Him and the other lads then found it difficult with the [winter] cancellations, not having the opportunity to train outside, things like that, and being thrown into playing; it was pretty extreme in those conditions.

“Something like that might raise its head again and I’d be daft if I don’t look at it, but I’ve got to make sure if I do do that it makes us better, because you’d be pushing someone’s nose out. We’ve got to be mindful of that.”