Keith Curle insists finding players with the right type of character is key in this summer’s transfer window.

The Carlisle United boss has already added nine players to his squad since the end of last season, with Luke Joyce, Tom Miller, Alexander McQueen, Angelo Balanta, Jabo Ibehre, Michael Raynes, Jason Kennedy, David Atkinson and Bastian Hery all penning permanent contracts at Brunton Park. 

And, having survived a League One approach for his head of recruitment Lee Dykes, Curle is confident the pair will be able to entice players with the right mindset to be able to haul the Blues to the League Two summit.

“It’s not just about ability, it’s about having the right type of person,” said Curle. “That part of it is massive for me. I’m in a good position with that because I have Lee [Dykes] who has a good understanding of how I want to work.

“He knows I want to progress and to do that I have to be around people who are like minded individuals.

"I also want people who have a hunger and desire to be successful. It’s not something which always stands out, but if you ask the right questions and have good conversations, as Lee does, then he can start to see that I will get a good reaction from the player. That means we all have something to work with.”

More new faces are expected at United before their season kicks off at Mansfield Town on Saturday August 8.

Trialists Nicky Walker, Joe Thompson and Kevin Osei are continuing to train with the club and are likely to play some part in Saturday’s friendly at Bradford City.

Should the attack-minded trio impress over the coming weeks they could earn themselves contracts, which would take United’s summer squad rebuilding into double figures.

Curle says as well as finding the right kind of personality to enhance his squad, he wants to create an “expressive environment” in which the more forward-thinking of his charges, such as the former Rochdale schemer Hery, can flourish.

“What you then need character-wise is a mix to make it work, and we do try to get that with the acquisitions we make,” he said.

“At the moment we have a good selection of solid players and we’ve also added a bit of flair.

"In terms of Bastien [Hery], it’s a bit of French flair, and he’s one who sticks out with me because I think we’ve done very well to get him.

“He’s playing and training the way I like to see the game played. He has resilience about him but he also has an air of unpredictability.

"I do like that in certain players. It’s part of trying to create an expressive environment because I want all of our players to play the right way, both in and out of possession.

"We’re getting the platform in place from where all of our players can go out and perform.”