30 year old ex-Burnley midfielder Paul Weller has joined the Carlisle United squad for pre-season training with a view to securing a permanent deal.

The former Claret, who started life as a trainee at Turf Moor and went on to make over 250 appearances in his 11 year spell, has been out of the professional game since a two month stay with Rochdale came to an end in November 2004.

Paul Simpson said, "we've brought him in to have a look at him because he is an excellent midfielder.  Even though he has been out of the game for a short while it doesn't mean that the ability has gone.  We will assess him as we go on over the coming weeks, and he's happy to do that, and then we'll take it from there once we make a decision.  I won't set any time frame on it as we want to have a good look at him, and he will want to have a look at us."

In the mean time the rest of the squad returned to a morning of sweat ... and more sweat today as pre-season started in earnest.  Joined by BBC Radio Cumbria's sports reporter James Phillips, who will provide a running radio documentary of what life is like during the first week back at work for a professional footballer, the lads found themselves pushed to the limit in the Neil Centre on some punishing circuits. 

Simmo told us, "it is really good to get back to it, get everyone going and start to prepare for life back in the Football League.  It's nice to have a holiday but it's also nice to get back to business as well."