Greg Abbott praises Carlisle United strikers

Curran, Loy, Zoko and Madden (l-r) will be given the opportunity to impress boss Greg Abbott this season.

Carlisle United boss Greg Abbott has praised his strikers after impressive displays in Saturday's friendly matches against Doncaster and Penrith.

Craig Curran, Francois Zoko and Rory Loy featured in the 1-0 win at Brunton Park, while Paddy Madden netted a hat-trick in a 3-2 success at Penrith.

"Craig has got two goals now, Rory came on and looked sharp and Francois was electric," Abbott told BBC Cumbria.

"Paddy has scored a hat-trick at Penrith, so I am delighted."

Abbott had previously revealed that Craig Curran, Rory Loy, Paddy Madden and Francois Zoko would be given the chance to impress at Brunton Park this season, despite a combined tally of just 19 goals in all competitions during the 2010-11 campaign.

"I think the strikers have done very well [this pre-season]," Abbott added.

The team needs to score goals, if they don't score goals we have to do something about it

"I think you have got to make opinions about where you think they are at and what we can do about it.

"What we have said all along is that the team needs to score goals, and if they don't score goals we have to do something about it, whatever we do."

Carlisle welcome Middlesbrough to Brunton Park on Tuesday as part of their pre-season programme, before a trip to Bradford City on Saturday.