Carlisle boss Greg Abbott has challenged Lewis Neal to earn a long-term contract at Brunton Park.
Winger joins from Preston for the rest of the season
Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott has challenged Lewis Neal to earn a long-term contract at Brunton Park.
Neal has joined the League One club from Preston North End on a contract until the end of the season.
The winger had not made a first-team appearance for Preston this season and spent a month on loan at Notts County in November.
He follows former Preston team-mate Joe Anyinsah in joining Carlisle during the transfer window and Abbott revealed there were other clubs chasing the 27-year-old.
Excellent footballer
"Lewis is an excellent footballer, and we have actually had to fight off a number of other clubs to get him to come here," Abbott told the club's
official website.
"He came up here and we have been able to persuade him that this is the place for him to be. He'll now provide us with some strong competition for that left-hand side, which is good for the squad.
"We're getting ourselves a Championship level player who wants to come in and help us to continue our progress.
"He will be with us through to the summer and that will be with a view to then further extending the deal. At the moment the contract gives him a chance to get some games in, and he is here to prove himself.
"He has made it quite clear that is why he is here, and we are delighted to have him on board with us."
