"It's not easy" - Mark Hughes reveals Carlisle United issue that needs fixing | OneFootball

Carlisle United manager Mark Hughes has called for his players to improve their fitness levels in their battle against relegation from League Two.

Carlisle United manager Mark Hughes has admitted his players need to improve their fitness levels as they look to avoid relegation from League Two.

After losing three of their first four league games of the season, Carlisle parted company with club legend Paul Simpson, and Mike Williamson made the move from MK Dons to take over as his replacement.

However, Williamson won just five of his 25 games in charge, drawing six and losing 14, and despite being allowed to bring in 11 new signings in January, the 41-year-old was sacked on the final day of the transfer window.

In a desperate attempt to salvage their season, the Cumbrians appointed former Bradford City boss Mark Hughes as their third manager of the campaign earlier this month, but he has failed to win any of his first four games.

There have been small signs of improvement under Hughes after back-to-back goalless draws at home to Colchester United and Gillingham, but Carlisle remain bottom of the table, and they are five points from safety ahead of the trip to local rivals Barrow on Thursday night.

Mark Hughes makes Carlisle United fitness demand

Hughes stressed that his side will need to improve their fitness levels if they are to avoid the drop, but he admitted that with so many new players arriving at the club in January, it will be difficult to get all of his squad up to the required standard.

"We were a little bit on the back foot just because so many players had come in and everybody was on different fitness levels," Hughes told the News & Star.

"It's not easy. It's not like starting a new season when everybody's on a level or even keel in terms of their fitness levels.

"We've got massive discrepancies in some players' fitness in comparison to others. I know that. I have to work with that.

"Initially, that was a real problem, understanding who can do what. We're still having to take players out of the fray because we know they can't complete 90 minutes.

"We're still in that process, but it's getting better. Every few days, we see differences in what people and what players can take on board.

"We've just got to make sure the time that we have is best utilised, and that means either physically or with the messaging that we're trying to put into the players."

Tranmere Rovers developments will be a concern for Carlisle United

Hughes has made Carlisle tougher to beat since replacing Williamson, but his side have scored just one goal during his four games in charge so far, and they have found the back of the net just 23 times all season, which is the joint-lowest in the division.

Despite their poor form, the Cumbrians are still only five points from safety, and they have a game in hand on many of those above them, but they may be concerned after Tranmere Rovers, who currently sit 22nd in the table, parted company with manager Nigel Adkins on Tuesday night.

With a much bigger gap to Harrogate Town and Accrington Stanley, any upturn in results for Tranmere could condemn Hughes' men to relegation, and with the Wirral outfit said to be considering an ambitious move for former Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe, Carlisle will be anxiously watching developments at Prenton Park.