Rob Elliot has played down the prospect of Carlisle United going back into the market for a striker.
The Blues bolstered their squad this week with attacking midfielder Teddy Jenks, who is set to be in the squad to face Boreham Wood on Saturday.
Some fans continue to believe United need another option up front in light of Luke Armstrong’s continued absence for another month.
Elliot, though, feels Carlisle have enough in the squad to support current No9 Georgie Kelly right now.
“I think [that’s the case], because when Lukey's back we’re in a really strong position, and we’ve got goals in the front line.
“With Georgie, for example, you look at Regan [Linney’s] goal [against Scunthorpe United] on Monday… there’s only one person in the league who can take care of three defenders from Adam [Desbois’] kick…
“You’ve got Regan there, Junior [Luamba] is now back, and David [Ajiboye]…
“I think also sometimes it’s easy to look at what you maybe think you don’t have, or you look at what other people have, rather than looking at what you’ve got.
“What we’ve got is a lot of talent, a lot of young lads, a lot of people who can do things that others can’t – and also we want to back the players that care and want to be here first.
“If something comes available I’m sure, like every club, you’d have a look at it.
“But right now I think we’re quite comfortable in terms of what we’ve got and making sure that we support and have as many options as possible when we need them.”
Carlisle, in attack, also have Bristol City loanee Luke Skinner, who has made three substitute appearances so far.
He is on an initial month’s loan deal which runs until the middle of September.
Elliot on how Teddy Jenks can add to Carlisle’s midfield
Former Worthing midfielder Jenks, meanwhile, can enhance Carlisle’s midfield options, Elliot believes.
The 24-year-old this week joined on a two-year deal.
Asked by the News & Star how he will best utilise Jenks, Elliot said: “Definitely in that more advanced midfield role, [although] he can play deeper because he’s such a lovely footballer.
“Having come through Brighton’s academy, he’s played at predominantly ball-dominant teams and, especially with Adam [Hinshelwood] at Worthing, we know how his teams play.
“I think he can really add that little bit of quality. I think he’ll give us that little bit of composure around the box where we just need to find that little bit of more consistent passing, and maybe find the extra pass to hurt teams and unlock teams.
“With his physicality and his game IQ, he’ll fit in really well. He’s the right age, he’s the right profile, he’s the right type of lad, so it’s a great signing for the club, adding to what we’re trying to build, and the personality and characters we want.”
Why Carlisle are targeting younger players with potential
Carlisle's sporting director Marc Tierney, in announcing Jenks’ arrival, said he “fits the profile of player we want to bring into the club, someone who can make an immediate impact but also has plenty of scope to develop”.
He is the latest permanent addition made this summer who is in their early to mid-twenties, with United’s recruitment appearing to lean in a particular direction.
Asked if this pursuit of younger players with hunger and development potential was now at the heart of Carlisle’s philosophy, rather than the heavier spending on supposedly more established players in the past, Elliot said: “It [the philosophy] is definitely mine and I think it’s followed by the club.
“I think it’s quite clear we want to play more attacking football, and we want to have more control.
“I don’t think we’re quite there yet in terms of what I want to see longer-term, but we’re definitely on the right path.
“It’s a brilliant group. They are such a good bunch of lads. I genuinely couldn’t have been happier with walking into this environment.
“They’ve been responsive, they’ve listened, they’ve implemented what we wanted and even when we haven’t been at our best, there’s still the work-rate and the energy and the effort, and a good togetherness.
“We want people who want to be here. It’s really important that people don’t come [just] because of the money – they come in because this is the best place for their career to get better, and to take the club forward.
“The thing we demand from anyone who comes in is that one day when they do leave Carlisle, they leave the club in a better place than they found it.
“That’s my responsibility and that’s everyone’s responsibility, and especially with players coming in.
“What I like about the signings that we’ve made is they’re players that I can see growing with the club as we improve and we get better. I think that’s the most important thing.”
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