Carlisle step up striker search

Danny Graham joined Carlisle from Middlesbrough in June 2007

Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott has stepped up his search for a new striker following Danny Graham's decision to reject a new deal with the club.

Abbott has revealed he has a list of "eight or nine" possible targets to replace last season's top scorer.

"We want get the right player," Abbott told BBC Radio Cumbria. "One that we think is going to make a big impact straight away.

"My phone has not stopped with people throwing names at me."

Graham, 23, has scored 40 goals in just over 100 appearances for United since joining from Middlesbrough in 2007 but Abbott is confident he can be replaced from his list of potential targets.

What I can tell everybody is that we will have a striker to replace Danny Graham in the squad for the first game of the season

Greg Abbott

"There are a couple of young ones in there, there are a couple of experienced ones in there," he said.

"There is one that we think might go on to better things and do similar to Danny and score a lot of goals and then might move on."

"We have got to have somebody that comes in and makes an instant impact so that would maybe tell you that he is not going to be 18 or 19.

"We are having a look at all the options though and we will work out which are the ones that we want to go for and make a positive chase for those players."

Abbott is refusing to reveal the identity of his targets but said he would not be rushed into making any rash decisions.

"I am not going to put myself or anybody under pressure to say that it has got to be today or tomorrow that we sign someone," he said.

"I think that it is important that we get the right one and the main list of players retained and released hasn't come out yet.

"What I can tell everybody though is that we will have a striker to replace Danny Graham in the squad for the first game of the season," he added.

Abbott also revealed that all of his squad will be given the chance to earn their starting place for the opening game of the new League One season during the club's pre-season campaign.

606: DEBATE

Whatever cash we do get for Graham will go on his replacement and possibly even a bit more

mattpakes

"I think we are going to give every single outfield player and the goalkeepers just the same, equal time in the friendlies.

"Everybody is going to get equal minutes on the pitch and that includes the young boys like Tom Aldred and Conor Tinnion. They are going to get time to show us if they are ready or not.

"It is a big time for Gary Madine. He is going to have time on the pitch to prove if he is ready to step into Danny Graham's mantle."

Meanwhile, the Cumbrians are also expecting a contract decision from defender David Raven by June 16.

"He was having a week away with his girlfriend to make a decision but the vibes that I got from David before he went were very, very good," said Abbott.

"So with that one I am pretty confident that we can sort something out with David and get him on board, and that really is my back four and the goalkeeper situation sorted out. "