Rob Elliot says Carlisle United are NOT actively pursuing another striker despite the absence of Georgie Kelly.
The frontman is set to be out for “a few weeks” at a time the Blues have other forwards sidelined.
Head coach Elliot, though, played down the idea Carlisle could go back into the market in the short term.
Assistant boss Louis Storey last weekend said the club would assess the situation as they did not want to be “left short” in attack.
Elliot, though, asked by BBC Radio Cumbria if Carlisle were pursuing a striker right now, said: “No – not at the moment.”
Luke Armstrong is on the comeback trail and is due to play some part in training on Friday, but Elliot said the striker is not yet ready to play.
The United boss has Regan Linney, David Ajiboye and Micah Obiero at his disposal as Carlisle’s main fit attacking options, with Junior Luamba also on the sidelines along with Kelly.
“When it comes down to the recruitment or anything on those lines, as long as it's someone that improves us and makes us better, then we'll always be open for it,” added Elliot.
“Every football club is, especially at this level when you can sign [outside of the windows that govern EFL clubs], but it has to be the right person and the right player that definitely improves the group.”
Kelly is out with hip and calf issues, having shouldered most of the burden in the No9 position since the start of the season.
The News & Star asked Elliot if the Irish frontman’s injuries further highlight that Carlisle should have brought in cover for him earlier.
Elliot said: “I think we were definitely a bit light there with Luke's injury, but [on those] decisions it had to be the right person and it had to be someone that did improve us and could support us.
“We ended up bringing Micah in to give us a different profile, with that sort of energy running behind and that real ruthlessness in the final third.
“But yes, I suppose it's one of those you look back on.
“We were looking to see if there was anyone that could help us but they had to improve us and they had to make us better. We didn't want to get into the situation of signing for the sake of it.
“The big thing for me is that if we're going to sign someone they have to improve us and they have to add either a different dynamic or improve what we need.
“If that's not available then sometimes you just have to accept that and keep moving forward.”
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