Manager Keith Curle confirmed he wants milestone man Neil Dalton to remain as a key part of his backroom staff at Carlisle United.

The Blues boss joined the tributes to the long-serving physio who celebrated his 1,000th game on Saturday.

The man known as Dolly was presented with a special framed shirt, featuring the number 1,000, before the 1-1 draw with Wycombe.

And Curle, who is in talks with the club about the future of his backroom team, saluted Dalton's "phenomenal" years of service.

Curle said: "Dolly is Mr Reliable and it is very important you have that with your staff.

"I've said before about players that you look for people who reliable, consistent and dependable.

"Dolly ticks all those boxes as a physio."

Dalton had earlier revealed in the News & Star how he had turned down approaches from Premier League and Championship clubs to remain at Brunton Park.

The 40-year-old was a YTS player at United in the same intake as Rory Delap before turning to physiotherapy in the mid-1990s.

Curle added: "Dolly understands the football club and has seen a lot of things that have gone on, but one thing he has got is a level of consistency as an individual.

"Dolly isn't the sort who comes in every morning and gives you a hug, but he goes about his job and knows what is needed.

"We have made some slight changes to the way we work at the club and Dolly has embraced those and taken on board that I am different and the requirements are different.

"Everything he does is spot-on. Maybe we should get a plaque on the dugout where he sits."