Former Carlisle United favourite Darren Edmondson says his Penrith side will strive to make the Blues’ first pre-season friendly as competitive as possible.

United begin their build-up to the 2022/23 campaign with a trip to Frenchfield Park tonight (kick-off 7pm).

It will see new signings Owen Moxon, Tomas Holy, Sonny Hilton and Ryan Edmondson get their first taste of Carlisle action, with trialists also expected to feature.

They will do so against a Northern League Division One club who appointed former 1990s United star and ex-Blues academy boss Edmondson as manager earlier this summer.

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It is also a first friendly of pre-season for the ex-Workington Reds and Barrow boss and his new club.

United’s regular pre-season trip to Penrith is a traditional money-spinner for the Frenchfield Park club, while Edmondson expects a “buzz” due to the Paul Simpson factor.

He pledged that his young side would give their all to make it a worthwhile workout for their Football League visitors. “We’ve got a young squad but there’s some talent there,” Edmondson told The Cumberland News.

“Hopefully we’ll have a game plan ready in place and try to nullify what Carlisle are going to do, and keep it respectable.

“We need to make it competitive for Carlisle as well, so they realise it’s worthwhile rather than just ticking a box.

“We’ve spoken in training about not being fazed by it. The good thing about having lots of young lads in our squad is that fear factor isn’t always there, and young lads are capable of switching off and playing their own game and running hard – they don’t always look at what’s next to them in the other shirt.

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“That youthful enthusiasm etc takes over. Hopefully we can structure them so it’s competitive, tight and the game has a decent flow to it and both teams get something from it rather than it just being a goal fest for one team.”

United fans are expected to visit Penrith’s ground in good numbers for their first glimpse of a new-look squad.

While Simpson is hoping to add further new faces, it will be a first opportunity to impress for keeper Holy, midfielders Moxon and Hilton, and striker Edmondson.

The Blues boss has also been running the rule over trialists, with a new face having linked up with the squad this week.

Another man likely to be out to impress is Jamie Devitt, who is continuing to train with the squad in a bid to earn a new contract.

Edmondson, facing his former club, added: “Simmo signing his contract has enthused Carlisle fans even more and I’m sure they’ll want to follow him down to Penrith and watch the game – so I think there will be a good crowd.

“It will be great to play against them and I’m sure the boys will be buzzing by it. From my point of view I just want us to do ourselves justice. It isn’t about who’s in the dugouts – it’s about two sets of players giving what they can to impress.”

Admission tonight is £5 for adults, £3 for seniors (65+) and £2 for under-18s, with entry cash only.