Paul Simpson admits he’s “very close” to nailing down his decisions for Carlisle United’s opening league game.

The Blues pre-season build-up is entering its final stages with their last friendly taking place at Morecambe this weekend.

Saturday's trip to Lancashire will give Simpson a last chance to fine-tune things in a game situation as well as give players more valuable minutes ahead of the big kick-off.

While United’s manager admits he would still like more players, he is getting nearer to pinning down his plans for the July 30 curtain-raiser.

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“I’m very close,” he said.

“[Although] obviously things can change. I’m hoping Omari [Patrick] will be fit. I don’t think Taylor Charters will be fit, but I’m hoping Marz will be fit and he can come into our thinking as well.

“But it’s a nice position to be in. Even though I’ve probably only got 16-17 senior players, outfield players, it’s nice they’re all pushing to want to be involved.”

United are coming to the end of their five-day training camp at Largs, which also included a 1-0 behind-closed-doors defeat to Livingston on Tuesday.

That was the only defeat in a pre-season which has offered some encouraging signs from the Blues.

Simpson, though, will not be drawn into making grand predictions about where Carlisle could go this season.

On the selection decisions he is facing, he added: “That’s what you want as a manager. I want even more of that.

“I want more bodies in to help us, to make the squad even stronger.

“I’m pleased with what I’m seeing so far but I’m just not going to get carried away.

“I’ll keep my feet on the ground and our first target is to still stay in this league this year. That’s always the first target.

“The sooner we do that the better, and that point we’ll readdress it and see where we go from there.”

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With Simpson still on the hunt for more players, United have more than a month of the summer window to make additions.

They have brought in six signings so far whilst admitted frustration at some that they could not get over the line.

“I could always say that I wanted even more players in [by now], but there’s no point in me worrying about that side of things,” manager Simpson said.

“If I haven’t got players I went for, that’s just how it is.

“Worrying about that doesn’t count for anything. I’m pleased with where we are but I know we need to be in an even better place come the Crawley game.”