Manager Keith Curle confirmed this week that former-Blue Steven Rigg has been training with the first team squad as he completes his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury picked up last season.
The striker, who bagged eight goals in 39 appearances with the Cumbrians, has been using United’s facilities for the last few months and has recently returned to full training, also making appearances in trial games with non-league clubs as he looks to secure a new move.
“He’s coming through a bad injury and he’s unattached at the moment,” Curle said. “What he needed was some full-time competitive training so we initially had him in with the youth team.
“That got him up to speed but having played games as a professional he felt he needed a slightly higher level as his injury situation improved. He phoned me and asked if he could come in and join the group. I had no problem with that at all because I like Riggy and I like having him about.
“He has that unpredictability and rawness about him and nothing is ever too much trouble. I’ve got a lot of time for him because I like his personality. I think leaving the club was the right thing for him to do at the time because he needed to go out and play games.”
“He has good qualities and the lad can score goals, so it was an open-ended invitation to come here and get himself fit with us,” he explained. “I think he’s had a couple of trial games for non-league teams so it’s good for us to be able to give him a helping hand.
“Having trained with us he knows he can go off to these trials being fully up to speed.”
“We first heard from Steven during the early stages of his rehab when he asked if he could use the gym facilities and the expertise of Neil Dalton and Lee Fearn,” he commented.
"His next progression from there was training on a regular basis and, as I say, we’ve been able to assist with that until he reaches a point where he can get fixed up with a club.
“If we do find that there’s a bounce game arranged and we have the space available I would have no problem at all with giving him some game time, because that will be a benefit to all concerned. He’s certainly working hard and I’ll help anyone who has that positive type of attitude.”
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