Paul Simpson says Carlisle United need to come up with a new plan to keep Omari Patrick fit for longer.

The attacker is currently working his way back from a hamstring injury.

And Simpson says that, when the forward does return to action this winter, it must be accompanied by a programme aimed at preventing the problem from reoccurring.

United’s boss says Patrick’s recent record underlines the need to do something different in this respect.

“I think whatever Omari’s been doing over the last couple of seasons hasn’t actually been working, wherever club he’s been at,” Simpson said.

“This hamstring issue keeps coming up.

“He’s not the only one. Lots of players up and down the country are having issues, it’s becoming a real common injury.

“We’ve got to try and do something to keep them available and hopefully we can come up with a solution to it.”

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Patrick was injured in pre-season and, after returning to action, suffered a fresh problem after scoring twice in the 3-1 win at Hartlepool United in October.

The popular attacker, whose goals were crucial to Carlisle’s survival last season, has been limited to 13 appearances this term.

Simpson said: “I’m looking forward to having him back available. He’s our quickest player, and gives us that threat in behind.

“He was doing really well, but I think it was Friday [the week before last] when he had a little bit of a setback where he felt something tighten in the hamstring again, whilst he was doing some one-v-one work.

“I don’t think it’s too bad, we’ve just got to monitor him.

“Unfortunately with hamstrings they are, once you’ve had it, and if you’re that type of player like Omari who’s very dynamic in his movements, you’re always running the risk of hamstring [injuries].

“Sadly we’ve just got to manage it, try to get him right.

“I spoke to him earlier this week about [the fact] we’re going to have to come up with a programme to keep him available for us, and make sure we devise a training regime for him so that he’s doing the work and getting the strength built up, but not overloading him so he’s going to break down again.”