Defender Iredale in.

Last updated : 07 May 2019 By Paddock Pundit

From the Times and Star:

 

Australian defender Jack Iredale has become Carlisle United's first summer signing, agreeing a one-year deal with the Blues.

Greenock-born Iredale emigrated with his family to New Zealand, and then on to Australia, when he was a youngster and played for Perth Glory and ECU Joondalup Down Under.

He returned to Scotland and signed for his hometown club of Greenock Morton in the summer of 2017, where he went on to score four goals in 49 appearances. He also made 14 appearances for Queen's Park, scoring once, in a three-month loan spell with the Spiders.

The 23-year-old has type one diabetes, too.

"Jack is a good size, he’s athletic and he’s very quick," United manager Steven Pressley said.

"I’d say that, at this moment in time, he has real strengths in his attacking play, and that’s something we know we want to work with.

"He’s also a good defender, let’s be clear on that, but as with any player, there are always aspects you see as a coach that you think you can help to improve.

"When you’re bringing players to League Two, you accept that you’re never going to find the complete player, but he has the raw attributes which can be utilised and developed, and that really excites us."

"He’s a good age, only 23, and he’s ambitious," Pressley added to the Blues' website on the left-back who joins the club with captain Danny Grainger retiring from the professional game.

"He was brought up in Australia and his dream was always to play at the highest level he possibly could in England. Hopefully, this is his first step towards doing that.

"I don’t want to work with a huge squad next season, so all the players I bring in will be vying for first-team places, and that’s very much the case with Jack.

"He’ll be looked upon as a starter, but he still has to earn that jersey. We won’t be given anything away at all when it comes to team selection."

Iredale will link up with United when his current contract with Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton ends next month and the deal remains subject to international clearance and the filing of all related contract and registration paperwork.