City have not had a single call about Nahki Wells since knocking back a bid from Peterborough.
Hot property Wells has begun the new season with a bang by scoring against Bristol City and Hudders-field Town.
Greg Abbott’s Carlisle – the club that released him before he came to City in 2011 – will be on high alert tomorrow as the opponents for City’s much-anticipated opening home game.
Peterborough tried to sign Wells earlier this summer but the club turned them down out of hand – with the player later dismissing it as a “sideways” move.
With the transfer window open until September 2, speculation remains about the striker. But Phil Parkinson insists there has been no proper interest.
He said: “We haven’t had any other calls. We haven’t had one enquiry from anyone at all and if someone was going to call, I would have expected it by now.
“There are lots of other good young players out there as well, Nahki’s not the only one. David Amoo has scored three goals for Carlisle.
“It’s not as if Nahki’s got two hat-tricks, he’s got two goals.
“The day will come when he will hopefully play at a higher level but he doesn’t have to think about that now.
“He’s got to prove himself in this division first. If he does, we’ll see where it takes him and us.”
Carlisle gave Wells his first crack at English football but he made only three appearances and was released at the end of his four-month contract. Parkinson does not see any extra significance from their presence at Valley Parade.
“Nahki was there for a short period of time and it didn’t work out for him. What is their loss is our gain.
“But it’s not like he played 100 times for Carlisle and has a great affinity with the club. It’s just another game.
“He’s got two in two and he needs to keep working hard and building on what he’s done so far. It’s a long season ahead.
“He’s got a focus about him and is ambitious to do the best he can. I want to help him fulfil his potential.
“Nahki’s a very confident boy and you need that bordering on a bit of arrogance as a striker.
“The hardest thing to do on a football pitch is put the ball in the back of the net. That’s why those players are worth their weight in gold.
“Nahki’s got the ability to do that. It’s about keeping him focused on what he needs to do each game to get those chances because when he does, we know he is clinical.”
Mark Lawn has made it clear that City will only entertain offers of “stupid” money for their prize assets. With promotion and the finances from last season’s cup run, the club are in a far stronger position.
Parkinson added: “We’re not unduly worried. We want to keep our best players.
“The chairman’s said he wants to back us and keep the players we’ve got.
“The challenge was whether we could keep who we wanted and add in one or two areas. So far we’ve done that.”
Carlisle bounced back from an horrific 5-1 drubbing by Leyton Orient on opening day to stun Blackburn in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday. Parkinson saw the game and anticipates a tough home baptism.
He said: “They are a very established League One side and it will be another good benchmark for us.
“People talk about the bigger clubs but Carlisle have been in there a number of years. They’ve touched the play-offs a few times and I’m sure Greg will be ambitious to get up there.
“I’m not kidded by the first performance because they had a man sent off and then conceded three late goals after that. I watched them in midweek and they are a good, young side with a bit of experience.
“We know it will be difficult but we have set a decent standard in the first two games and we need to maintain that.”
City will check on Rory McArdle’s ankle today, otherwise Matt Taylor is likely to partner Andrew Davies at centre half.
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