Experienced Carlisle United defender Paul Huntington is remaining at Brunton Park for another campaign.

It has been confirmed that the Carlisle-born centre-back has triggered a clause in his contract to extend his deal into next season.

Huntington, 35, will now be a Blues player until the end of the 2023/24 season.

He has been an influential figure at the back for United since joining his home-city club last summer.

United boss Paul Simpson said he was delighted Huntington will be remaining at Brunton Park.

“There was an option based on him playing so many games so he’s triggered that now, which means he’s got an extension and he’ll be with us next year, which I’m delighted about," Simpson said.

“He wants to be playing games and I want him to be playing, and he’s at that stage of his career where we have to manage his training load.

"He’s here to play games for us, and although he’s made some mistakes, like we all have, he has been a rock for us at the back.

“His experience has been really valuable and I hope that continues to be the case for the last 15 games of this season, and also through next season as well.”

Huntington has made 29 appearances and scored two goals so far for United.

He joined the Blues last summer after a long spell at Preston North End.

Simpson said he expects the Cumbrian to be fit for Saturday's clash with Colchester United after being substituted at half-time in Tuesday's 4-0 defeat to Mansfield Town.

"He had a little bit of a niggle the other day and my thinking was that the game was gone and it was about pride, so I didn’t want to flog him," added the United boss.

"The most important game is now Saturday, so that’s the reason I took him out of it on Tuesday. I expect him to be fully fit for the weekend."