Former Carlisle United forward Mark Cullen has dropped into National League North.

The ex-Blues loan striker has joined AFC Fylde.

Cullen has made a permanent move from Carlisle's League Two rivals Hartlepool United.

The switch will see Cullen team up with fellow former United man Luke Joyce at the sixth-tier promotion chasers.

Fylde sit fourth in National League North.

Cullen, 29, was with United in the 2018/19 season.

He joined in the January transfer window on loan from Blackpool with high hopes, but made just nine appearanes without scoring in an injury-hit spell.

He has scored six in 27 outings for Pools this campaign but manager Graeme Lee said recent signings had pushed him down the pecking order.

"We will miss him in and around the squad - a great personality and a great attitude," Lee said.

"With the new signings coming in, it was a lack of game time and he became frustrated.

"It also gives Mark an opportunity to move closer to home and be near family. We could have been selfish and kept Mark but we wanted the best for him. We wish him all the best going forward."

Fylde boss Jim Bentley described Cullen as "an out-and-out goalscorer."