Paul Simpson has urged top scorer Kristian Dennis to carve out his place in Carlisle United history.

Manager Simpson feels the 12-goal frontman should be aiming to become the Blues’ first 20-goal-a-season man for many years.

Not since Karl Hawley in 2005/6 – during Simpson’s first spell in charge – has a Carlisle player passed the 20 mark in a campaign.

Hawley hit 26 that campaign.

Simpson says it should be a good incentive for his current in-form striker, who will bid to help United reach the FA Cup third round this weekend.

“The challenge for him is to keep it going,” said Simpson.

“He’s got himself into double figures, he’s going really well, and I read it was his 100th goal [Dennis’s second goal at Salford City]…things are going really well for him, and he’s got to keep going.

“I keep challenging players all the time – it’s not about what’s gone, it’s what’s in front of us.

“I want Kristian Dennis to be getting up to 20 goals. If he’s at this point now with his goal return, he should be looking at 20, and once he gets to 20 he needs to be aiming for 25, 30.

"It's a long time since a Carlisle player got 20 goals in a season. He has to make that mark himself, create a bit of history for himself, and if he does that we’ll hopefully stay in these top places.”

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Dennis’s 12 goals have come in 19 appearances this campaign.

Simpson, though, said his main challenge to his 32-year-old leading scorer for the rest of the season has nothing to do with his scoring record.

"Strikers tend to set their own targets," United's manager added.

“My challenge to him is not [just] to go and get more goals, but just to be as fit as he possibly can and get himself into really good shape so he’s able to carry on for the whole season."

On the goalscoring efforts of his team generally, which sees United as League Two’s joint second highest-scoring team so far, the Blues boss said: “I’m challenging them to get goals from all over the place.

“I’m delighted with what Denno’s doing but I want more goals – I want goals from wing-backs, midfielders to score more goals, centre-halves to get more from set plays, and if we do that we’ll keep being successful.”