NEW Carlisle United striker Ryan Edmondson is excited to get up and running for the Blues after making the move from Premier League side Leeds United last week.

The 21-year-old became Paul Simpson’s fourth signing of the summer when he swapped Elland Road for Brunton Park, rekindling a relationship which started when Simpson was his coach at England Under-19 level.

The targetman spent last season on loan at Port Vale following spells at Aberdeen, Northampton Town and Fleetwood Town, ending the season with a League Two play-off final victory at Wembley Stadium.

And Edmondson believes that his experience out on loan will put him in a good position come the start of the season.

“I think it helps a lot for a young lad in this league to have done that,” he told the club's official website. “I’ve had that experience of playing men’s football recently and that’s really good.

“I had a great season last season with Port Vale, and we were successful. Hopefully we can do the same again this year.”

Simpson spoke of Edmondson being a ‘throwback’ as an old-school number nine, and the new boy admitted that his new manager was a big draw when deciding where to go this summer.

“I’ve worked with Simmo previously so we’ve had that relationship together,” he commented. “He’s been my manager before and I know he suits my playing style quite well.

“He knows me well as a player and I know him quite well as a manager. There was a lot of interest there, but as soon as I heard Simmo’s name that was a big thing for me.”

Simpson committed his future to the club over the summer, signing a three-year-contract after ensuring the Blues’ safety in a 15-game spell which included eight victories.

Much of the conversation over the summer has been about kicking on, and Edmondson feels that with the fans behind them, they can do just that.

“It’s brilliant to be here,” he said. “Running out with the shirt on for the first time will be special.

“It’s a special club, a massive club for where we are, and to go out there and hear the fans behind us - hopefully we’ll get that first win in the first game of the season to get us off and flying.

“The support I’ve had from them already is great. Football is all about the fans, it’s why we play the game.

“When they’ve got your back and they’re cheering you on it’s a great feeling. Hopefully it’ll be like that when we step onto the pitch.

“From me they’ll get energy, work ethic, and a lot of people know me as just being a work horse.

“I know what happened here last season and I think we’ve got a point to prove. It probably wasn’t the best, they didn’t perform to the best of their ability, but I think this season we can really put that right. We have to lay our stamp down early.”