With thanks to the Times & Star:
Carlisle United have today made former Northampton midfielder Jack Bridge their fifth summer signing.
Bridge, 23, has signed a one-year deal at Brunton Park to join Steven Pressley’s squad ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
The attacking midfielder caught the eye when scoring twice against Carlisle for the Cobblers at the Sixfields Stadium last term.
He was released by Northampton's former Blues boss Keith Curle at the end of last season.
Bridge becomes the latest new face at United after the earlier additions of Jack Iredale, Christie Elliott, Jon Mellish and Harry McKirdy.
He first came through the youth ranks at home-town club Southend, making 11 first-team appearances for the Roots Hall club and, after loan spells with Chelmsford and a brief trial with Bournemouth, moved to Northampton in January 2018.
He made 36 appearances for the Cobblers, and other than his brace against the Blues in January’s 3-0 win, the midfielder scored one other goal for the club – against Luton in the FA Cup – before his summer release.
Pressley said on United's website: "He’s very much like Harry McKirdy in the sense that he’s showing a lot of potential.
"The qualities he has have come through, but he hasn’t yet produced them over a consistent period. That’s why this is a big year for him if he wants to realise his ambitions.
"I want him to come here and really grab the opportunity with both hands. If he does that we’ll find ourselves with an excellent player.
"He plays the game with a high level of energy, which I like, and he’s a dynamic and creative footballer who likes to get the team forward. He’s very much an attacking midfield player, who hasn’t always been used in that way, but that is without doubt his position.
“He’ll suit the way we play because he can travel with the ball and one of the other things he has in his locker is that he has very good set plays.”
Northampton boss Curle last season said Bridge was best suited to the number 10 position.
“He can also play either side, he can play as a number 10 behind one striker and he can also play in wide areas,” Curle added.
“He’s got quality and he’s got ability”.
Bridge was among eight players released by Curle at the end of 2018/19.
United said Bridge's deal with the club includes a review option.