Greg Abbott says Owen Moxon is a perfect example of the way Carlisle United can get ahead of the game with their recruitment.

The Carlisle-born former Annan Athletic midfielder has starred for Paul Simpson’s side since his summer move.

Moxon, after making the step up from part-time football in Scottish League Two, has been one of United’s top performers so far in 2022/23.

And head of recruitment Abbott says being alive to other opportunities where other clubs may not look must be a crucial part of their scouting.

“I think that, more and more, we’ve got to look behind the eight-ball a bit,” said Abbott.

“If we go to the obvious [target] that’s there, many others are geographically better positioned and certainly have more money.

“We’re looking in areas where we think we can get players before others. Moxon is a perfect example.

“They’re out there; it’s just a matter of using your contacts, and people who’ll point you in the right direction.

“National League North is another place where there is people. Look at the lad from Gateshead who’s now playing at Notts County, [Macaulay] Langstaff.

“He’s scored nearly 20 goals already and people are talking about Championship clubs at the top end looking at taking him.

“[These players] are out there. We’ve just got to get in there first and maybe take that risk before they’ve established themselves anywhere and become a firm component of a team.

“Everybody knows about them then and it’s a real effort to persuade them to come here.”

Abbott, meanwhile, has also spoken of the challenges in pinpointing potential loan players in the Premier League academy market.

United’s former manager, who is helping Paul Simpson compile a list of potential January targets, said assessing players who can adapt to League Two is crucial.

“The big problem with the younger players is can they replicate what they do at U21 level at League Two level? Because they’re playing a totally different style of football against total different opposition with a different intensity.

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“Because of loans being minimum half-season loans, it’s important I speak to the coaches – I know a lot of the people at the clubs we do our recruitment from, and say, ‘Between us we’ve got to try and get this right, otherwise we’re not doing the young players any favours, the parent club or Carlisle any good either’.

“We have to have a trust between us. Because I have quite a few years in the game, quite a lot of people know me and trust us to get things right and it’s a successful loan for everybody.”

Abbott says a defensive style of play is something particularly important to get right when scouting young players.

“I went to watch Man City [Under-21s] v Doncaster and they did four passes inside not the 18-yard box but the six-yard box,” he said.

“So I drew a line through all four defenders. ‘Not for us’. Simmo started laughing, asking why – I said, ‘Because they’re actually too good, they take too many risks...’

“They played their way out of it but I’m not so sure on a tough night at Sutton when five really tough, aggressive strikers are closing you down, you want to play four or five passes in your six-yard box.

“Some of these young players are at certain clubs that want their players to play like that, and want their loans to play like that.

“We want defenders that can defend properly. Be comfortable on the ball, but defending is key.

“Attacking players is a bit different, in the final third you can get the ones who can express themselves and take people on.”

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