Carlisle United should avoid return deal for Wrexham promotion winner: View | OneFootball

Former Carlisle United defender, and two-time promotion winner with Wrexham AFC, Aaron Hayden, almost perfectly fits the type of profile that Paul Simpson wants to sign this summer, but they should be wary about any deal for him because of one major factor.

The United manager admitted as long ago as early April that his team were lacking: "pace," and "athleticism," after a convincing defeat to Reading FC.

These characteristics, as well as strong characters in the dressing room, had already been earmarked by Simpson as something to address in the upcoming summer transfer window.

As fans, and journalists alike, tend to do around this time of year, people have been scouring the retained/released lists to see which players their club could be after.

With the Blues heading down to League Two, and with an obvious goal of getting promoted back to League One ASAP, the players from the best teams from the fourth division were an obvious place to start looking.

Hayden, a former United defender, who was one of their best players before he was bought by the Red Dragons, understandably stood out as a good option.

But there are major concerns about his fitness that should make Carlisle think twice about bringing him back to Brunton Park.

Aaron Hayden's time with Carlisle United

The central defender joined the Blues after having a successful trial period in Cumbria, in July 2019. That first season with the club wasn't his easiest, being asked to play pretty much every position across the defensive line in the Covid-hit campaign.

When football returned for the 20/21 season, the former Wolves academy product seemed to click into gear, and he quickly became recognised as one of the top defenders in the league.

He was playing non-league football up until his arrival at Brunton Park. His raw ability and physical attributes were clear, so when he knitted it altogether, it was no shock to hear that other teams were interested in taking him off Carlisle's hands.

There were hopes that United could get promoted in the 20/21 season, under the management of Chris Beech, but injuries and a series of players picking up the virus at once, which de-railed many scheduled games, and their form, quickly put a stop to that.

Hayden, though, came through the campaign stronger than ever, and Wrexham, with their new Hollywood owners, identified him, and many other top players in the lower leagues of the EFL, like Paul Mullin and Ben Tozer, as people who could help them rise up the league quickly.

That is what they achieved, and, even though his involvement lessened year upon year, Hayden was part of that journey.

The one factor that should make Carlisle question signing Aaron Hayden

United's previous experience with the 27-year-old, and what he has done since moving to north Wales, isn't the basis of the worry over him. His ability has been clear to see whenever he has been on the pitch.

It's the second part of that last sentence that is the crux of the argument.

Hayden has all the physical abilities and good assets that Simpson wants in a defender, but, if he isn't available to use them, then it's much harder to justify offering him a deal.

Over the past two seasons, the defender has made just over 40 league appearances - he played more than that in the 20/21 campaign for the Blues.

If he'd been residing on the bench, and not being picked because of a perceived lack of quality, then Carlisle could certainly pursue a move for him with little worries. The problem is that he only made 15 league appearances last season, all of which were starts, and was only on the bench twice.

He has been very unfortunate with injuries in recent seasons, and Carlisle need some consistency in their team if they want to get promoted.

As someone who they are taking a punt on because they already have enough defensive cover, in the hope that he can get past his fitness woes, the 27-year-old is probably worth a shot.

Hayden being their marquee defensive signing would be a big risk though, and it's only really because of his recent injury history.