Carlisle United boss Paul Simpson admits he has been very encouraged by the way Owen Moxon has stepped up from part-time football.

The former Annan Athletic man has caught the eye in pre-season for the Blues, whose final friendly is at Morecambe tomorrow (Mazuma Stadium, 3pm).

Moxon was involved in all three goals in last weekend’s win over Bolton Wanderers, and the Carlisle-born midfielder has put himself firmly in contention for a starting place when the League Two campaign gets under way next week.

Simpson says the 24-year-old summer signing still has plenty to learn, but has already shown he can have a positive impact on the Blues with his creativity.

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“I think Owen’s done really well,” Simpson said, “to be able to adapt like he has, from being part-time footballer with Annan and driving a van, to coming into the full-time training.

“He’s found it tough at times. He’s had a few little aches and pains, which is fine, I told him that’s perfectly normal.

“I thought his game’s very good. He’s got a fantastic range of passing.

“There are things he needs to be better on, taking little chances, but if we can keep that understanding that him and Denno [Kristian Dennis] and Ryan Edmondson have got, and maybe develop it with Tobi [Sho-Silva] as well, and Nic Bollado and Omari [Patrick] when they come into the side, he can see people making runs off the back of centre-backs, and he’s got that pinpoint pass he can put in there

“I’m hoping over the season that will create some chances for us.”

Moxon could get another chance to impress when United face League One opposition for the second successive weekend.

The trip to Morecambe comes after the Blues’ week-long training camp in Largs, which included a 1-0 behind-closed-doors friendly defeat to Livingston.

Simpson could welcome back defender Morgan Feeney after the head injury he suffered against Bolton.

Brennan Dickenson is having a dead leg monitored ahead of the game against Derek Adams’ Shrimps.

Patrick is also inching closer to a return, while for Jamie Devitt it could be a final chance to press his claims for a deal with the Blues.

Simpson has stressed that United are still working to try and bring more players in, but there is no sign yet of any further additions ahead of the game against a Morecambe side who could include former United players Cole Stockton and Arthur Gnahoua.

Moxon, meanwhile, also showed his worth last weekend with some dangerous set-piece deliveries – something Simpson wants to maximise in 2022/23.

The manager said: “Set-pieces are huge at every level. I think there’s about 30 per cent, maybe even more, of goals that are scored from set plays.

“If we can defend them really well, and attack them well, then we could get a 60 per cent swing in games, and that’s a huge asset to have.

“We’ve now got players on the pitch who’ve got an excellent delivery, in Mox, Sonny [Hilton], Cal [Guy] and Dev [Jamie Devitt], if he’s involved.

“We’ve also got people who are prepared to go and organise and get their heads on things.

“The organisation has been good, we’ve done a lot of sessions where it’s been a focus on set pieces, because we have to be better at them.”