Carlisle United boss on Keith Curle's return with Hartlepool United

But the Blues boss also hopes to subject Curle’s Hartlepool United to a “really tough night”.

Curle, Carlisle’s manager from 2014-18, brings his survival-chasing Pools side to Brunton Park this evening.

They take on a fourth-placed Carlisle side who could go one point outside the automatic promotion places with victory.

Curle, whose Monkey Hangers are third bottom, head to Cumbria off the back of an important 2-0 win over relegation rivals Rochdale.

Simpson says his opposite number - who he played alongside at Wolverhampton Wanderers - deserves respect and will set United a test tonight.

The Blues manager said: “He’s an experienced coach, Keith. He knows what he’s doing, especially in this league.

“He’s got a very good record, and he had a good record at Carlisle United.

“I hope when he comes we all give him a really good reception. I hope the supporters are good to him because he deserves that.

“But then I want him to go away having had a really tough night, and hopefully taking absolutely nothing away with him.”

Carlisle’s clash with Pools tonight is their first Tuesday night league game at Brunton Park this season.

The rearranged fixture sees the Blues back in action after Saturday’s postponement against Bradford City.

Pools’ win over Rochdale was one of just three League Two games to survive the weather at the weekend.

Simpson says United must be ready for a determined opposition tonight – but said Carlisle’s own need for points is also great.

“On Saturday they had a very good win – they looked strong, big and physical, it was a really determined performance. Which you would expect – they’re scrapping for their lives at the bottom, and I would always expect it from a Keith Curle team as well,” Simpson said.

READ MORE: Hartlepool sign Premier League keeper ahead of Carlisle clash

“They’ll be coming here buoyed by that result, buoyed by the way they went about it.

“We’ve got to make sure we forget about league tables and make sure we do our job properly. If we do that we should have enough to get a positive result.

“I’m expecting it to be a real tough, physical game. They cause you problems because they get balls into their forward players who are a real handful.

“I think they will try and bombard our box with crosses for strikers to feed on; they’re a threat at set plays.

“It’s something we have to be prepared for. We’re really looking forward to the game.”

Josh Umerah is Hartlepool's top scorer with 12 goals (Image: PA)

Hartlepool could include new goalkeeper signing Jakub Stolarczyk, who joined on loan from Leicester City yesterday.

For Carlisle, meanwhile, it will be a first game back at Brunton Park for Joe Garner following his return to the club last week.

READ MORE: Joe Garner talks about his Carlisle United return

Carlisle enjoyed a memorable 3-1 away win over Pools in October, early into Curle’s tenure at the north east club.

“There’s certainly different personnel in place since then,” Simpson said.

“The three centre-backs are all different, Jamie Sterry is back fit again, Nicky Featherstone is back fit – he wasn’t at the start – they’ve brought Matty Dolan in and they’ve signed a goalkeeper on loan from Leicester; whether that’s registered in time I don’t know.

“But it really is about us, how we go about our game. We’ve just got to make sure we’re right. If we can do it as well as we have the first 25 games, we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”