Carlisle United Boss Paul Simpson believes that loanee Luke Plange can be a regular goalscorer for his side this season, reports Jon Colman of The Cumberland News and Star.
The Cumbrians currently sit 20th in League One and travel to Port Vale today with the knowledge that they have only scored two goals so far this campaign. Plange was brought in from Premier League side Crystal Palace on a half-season loan deal until January.
The 20-year-old had a similar loan spell at Lincoln City last season, where he featured 18 times for the Imps and failed to score, but boss Paul Simpson has faith that his team will find the goals they need.
What’s Been Said?
With only two goals scored so far this season, Carlisle need to find someone in their side who can be a natural goalscorer to help them get on the front foot and win games. With Omari Patrick’s departure to Sutton United this summer, the Cumbrians moved quickly to bring in Plange and ahead of this weekend’s game with Andy Crosby’s Valiants, they also added Terry Ablade, who joined from Fulham on a season-long loan.
It is Owen Moxon who has been the stand-out for Carlisle so far, and he is the man who has scored both of Carlisle’s goals in the league this season. If they are to survive, they need their strikers to score as well as their midfield players. In Plange, they have a striker who Simpson has a lot of faith in.
Speaking about the Palace loanee, Simpson commented;
“The reason we’ve brought Luke in is because he is a goalscorer – that’s what I like about him.
“I like the way he can run with and without the ball, his work ethic.
“We need to get him opportunities inside that 18-yard box, and I do believe that he’ll score goals
“I think as soon as he gets one, and if we can keep creating them as a team, he’ll score goals for us.”
Writer’s View
For Paul Simpson to put a lot of faith in a striker who did not really set the world alight last season on loan at Lincoln City does give me some concerns towards Carlisle. However, Luke Plange was highly regarded by the Derby County academy before he made the move to Crystal Palace, so there clearly is a player in there somewhere.
As the manager has said, as soon as he gets his first goal for the club, it will give him huge confidence which could have promising ambitions for Carlisle United to stay in League One this season.
