Carlisle United manager Steven Pressley admits he hopes to have one of his loan striker targets in the squad for this weekend's match against Mansfield.

Pressley says he thinks the deal will happen, although would not name the frontman publicly.

He said: “We are very close to it, I can’t tell you how close we are.

“We think it's going to happen. We think we are going to have news in the very near future and it’ll be positive news.

“It’s been worth the wait.”

When asked if the potential United addition could be in the squad for their match against Mansfield (3pm kick-off, Brunton Park), Pressley replied: “Yes.”

Carlisle had been pursuing two loan striker options, with Pressley saying this target had recently come back on the agenda despite the Blues initially believing he would go elsewhere.

“This was a target that I have been pursuing for five or six weeks, a bit like the other target [the Championship striker],” Pressley explained.

“But this was a target probably a week ago that we felt it [the chance to sign him] was gone. We thought the situation was that he was going to move to another club on loan.

"It fell through and, now, it looks like it’s going to happen. He is somebody I had pursued for a long time, pretty much from day one of pre-season.

"So, we are really pleased to get him.”

It comes as another major boost for the Cumbrians who will look to build on Tuesday’s 3-0 Carabao Cup success against Championship outfit Barnsley, as United return to league action.

Pressley said: “That’s the sign of a good team. A good team doesn’t dwell on Tuesday night’s success, it re-focuses and, immediately, turns its attention to Saturday's game. 

“Mansfield are a club that have invested heavily over the last three or four years, seeking that all-important promotion. In the summer they, again, made some very good signings. So, they are a good side. 

“But, although I respect them, I’m going to focus on us and still try to improve. If we do that then, without doubt, it’s a game we could win.”

The Stags, who have former Blues striker Andy Cook among their ranks, have started their 2019/20 League Two campaign with back-to-back 2-2 draws, but Pressley isn’t reading too much into those results in the early stages of this campaign.

He said: “I think everybody is trying to find their way just now. It’s the early part of the season and you always get indifferent results and indifferent performances. 

“Over the next couple of weeks, teams will start settling down and finding their way. So no, it doesn’t surprise me.”

On what he felt Mansfield’s main threats were, Pressley added: “They have a number of strikers who are capable of contributing with goals, there is no doubt about that. 

“And they are a well-organised side, so they have experience in the right areas, and, over the last couple of years, they have always been competitive.”

With United’s youth team travelling to Hungary, Pressley confirmed Jarrad Branthwaite, Josh Galloway and Taylor Charters, the latter signing a two-year professional deal with the club today, have remained with the first-team squad.