David Holdsworth says Carlisle United are set to meet a striker today as they bid to add more goals to the team.

Director of football Holdsworth says the Blues accept they need more firepower for the 2021/22 campaign.

He said United are not “sitting about waiting” and are making enquiries for further frontmen.

Speaking at Tuesday's online fans’ forum hosted by United's supporters groups, Holdsworth said having a “main goalscorer” was something they were determined to add.

He said: “Chris [Beech, head coach] and I, and [assistant boss] Gavin Skelton had a two-and-a-half hour meeting yesterday looking at our options for strikers.

“We’re actually meeting one tomorrow.

“We’re not sitting about waiting for one to pop up.

“We’ve [also] enquired about three players on loan.

“We have to replace JJ [Kayode], who has had a great season for us, really fitted in with the fans, and we wish him every success at Rotherham.

“The search is on for a striker. Chris and Gavin will look at everything we can in our resources to find that option.

“We’re not looking for one. We’re looking for two or three. We have to have a multitude of options going forward and with the boys that are already here.”

Holdsworth was responding to a question which highlighted that, while midfielder Jon Mellish got 16 goals last season, none of Carlisle’s forwards hit double figures.

The director of football admitted United do need more goals from their attacking ranks.

He said: “We went beyond our means when we signed Gavin Reilly, and it didn’t really fit. JJ contributed a great deal.

“Our forward players, our flexible forwards, wide players…could have done better, and the goal return wasn’t as good as it should have been.

“There were fives, sixes, sevens – it’s not what we want and that’s the manager’s decision to recruit a centre-forward that he feels can [score more].

“We brought in [Offrande] Zanzala [in January], who didn’t get to pace straight away, and certainly wasn’t match sharp – not his fault, he was on the bench and in the stands at Crewe – but we went out and recruited a League One striker who has aspirations to go back to League One, which is absolutely right if you’re a footballer, you want to play at the highest level.

“He’s a great character and if he wants to re-sign, he can.”