Give us three years, Carlisle United boss Paul Simpson urges defender Paul Huntington

The city-born defender has proved a hugely influential presence since signing for United in the summer.

Huntington joined on a one-year deal after his departure from Preston North End.

The 35-year-old produced his latest dominant display in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Tranmere Rovers.

It came as United’s XI included four Cumbrians – including Maryport's Taylor Charters, Carlisle's Owen Moxon and Staveley's Jack Ellis – for the first time since 2015.

Speaking about the Cumbrian influence on the side, Simpson said: “I can only talk about how feel coming back and being the manager of Carlisle United. I’m quite sure for the players playing for Carlisle United it’s a big thing.

READ MORE: Fans' views on Carlisle's superb win at Tranmere

“We’re talking about two young players in Jack and Taylor who’ve come through the system.

“We’ve got Hunts who’s gone away from Carlisle and had an absolutely brilliant career, and hopefully giving us, I’d like to think, at least three years to finish his career – that’s me giving him a bit of a challenge there.

The four Cumbrians who started for United at Tranmere (left to right): Taylor Charters, Owen Moxon, Paul Huntington and Jack Ellis (Image: Richard Parkes)

“And then Owen Moxon who left the club, went away, didn’t spit his dummy out, got knuckled down and has come back in and been excellent.

“It’s really good. And. who knows, maybe there might be somebody else gets a turn soon as well.”

Huntington has made 12 appearances for the Blues so far and was named in the latest League Two team of the week for his excellent showing at Prenton Park.

He was joined in the weekly division select XI by team-mates Morgan Feeney and Tomas Holy.

Simpson, meanwhile, has welcomed the home-grown aspect of Carlisle’s team, with academy graduates Charters and Ellis impressing against Tranmere.

“We have to [bring players through] at a club like ours,” he said.

“There isn’t a bottomless pit of money. It does matter to us and I think it matters to the players.

“I’m not saying that players who aren’t from here don’t care, because they do, but when you’re from the area there’s a closer affinity with what’s going on.”

The previous occasion United fielded four Cumbrians in their starting league line-up was the 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on April 18, 2015, when their XI included Kyle Dempsey, Danny Grainger, Patrick Brough and Steven Rigg.