Carlisle United boss Keith Curle insists the absence of assistant Colin West is down to him being given “a few days off”.

West has been absent for much of pre-season and did not appear in the dugout in the 7-0 friendly victory over Penrith over a fortnight ago.

The former Sunderland forward, who arrived at United alongside Curle in September last year, wasn’t present as the Blues headed off to an intensive team-building training camp in the Lake District last week, and nor was he at Bradford City on Saturday, where Curle’s men lost 2-0.

Head of recruitment Lee Dykes has acted as Curle’s right-hand man during the past few weeks in West’s unexplained absence.

But after he also missed the entertaining 4-3 over Championship side Preston North End at Brunton Park on Tuesday night – United’s first win over the Deepdale outfit since February 1998 – Curle said the explanation of West’s absence, which has raised plenty of eyebrows amongst Carlisle supporters, was a simple one.

“It’s very simple – I’ve given Colin a couple of days off. Simple as – no drama, no conspiracy theories there,” he said.

When asked when West could be expected back in the dugout, Curle suggested that his assistant would return to work ahead of the start of the season at Mansfield Town on Saturday August 8, Curle offered “when his time off is finished” as an initial time scale for his return.

He did confirm, however, that West would remain a crucial part of his backroom staff, and will return before the season opener at Field Mill.

“He wont be back for Saturday [friendly against Oldham], but in and around the Mansfield game, he’ll be back,” said Curle.

Trialist Joe Thompson has been offered a short-term deal by Carlisle United, manager Keith Curle confirmed last night.

The former Rochdale winger came on as a half-time substitute in the impressive 4-3 victory over Championship newcomers Preston at Brunton Park last night.

And Curle revealed after the match - which saw defender Alex McQueen sent off - that Thompson had been offered terms by the club on the same day United handed a contract to fellow trialist Kevin Osei.