Omari Patrick joined a very select group of players when he scored for Carlisle United against Bradford City.

The attacker, who rejoined the Blues from Burton Albion last week, wasted little time in getting back on the scoresheet for the Cumbrians.

And substitute Patrick's 87th-minute goal on Saturday earned him a small piece of United history in the process.

The 25-year-old became one of just four players who have scored on their second permanent debut for Carlisle.

The first was the man often described as the greatest player in the club's history - Hugh McIlmoyle.

The brilliant Scottish striker returned for his second spell at Brunton Park in 1967 - and was immediately off the mark in a 2-1 victory against Huddersfield Town on September 23 in front of 13,511 fans.

News and Star: Hugh McIlmoyle (photo: PA)Hugh McIlmoyle (photo: PA)

That feat stood alone as far as goalscoring second comings went at United - until 1999.

That year, McIlmoyle was joined in the lonely ranks of goalscoring second debutants by Paul Baker.

The man who had first played for Carlisle in the 1980s returned as a veteran striker in the 1999/2000 season.

And Baker christened his second permanent Blues spell with a goal on his first outing which earned a 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town on August 28, 1999.

It took another seven years for the third member of the club to be welcomed - and this time it was a Cumbrian.

Midfielder Paul Murray, who had starred as a home-grown player for United in the 1990s, returned to Brunton Park in 2006.

His second debut was held up by red tape linked to his departure from Portuguese side Beira-Mar.

But when Murray did finally make it onto the pitch, it proved worth the wait - as he volleyed home an early goal which proved the winner against Doncaster Rovers on August 5, 2006.

United have had other returning players on permanent spells, both before and since, but it took until the latter stages of their most recent game on January 8, 2022 for the select group to grow from three to four.

That came when Patrick - just two days after signing - controlled a high ball and brilliantly sped away from a Bradford defender before slotting home to seal United's third straight win.

READ: Other Carlisle United stars who've come back for more