By Jon Colman

Last updated 11:56, Saturday, 15 November 2008

Josh Gowling insists he is undaunted by the challenge of proving himself all over again after the departure of the manager who brought him to Carlisle United.

Ouch: Carlisle’s Josh Gowling is challenged from behind by Colchester United’s Johnnie Jackson during the 5-0 defeat in Essex three weeks ago

John Ward ended a long pursuit of Gowling when he made the former Bournemouth defender his first summer signing.

But the boss’s departure just three months into the season means Gowling now has to convince a new boss – currently caretaker Greg Abbott – that he was worth the effort.

The 24-year-old, who will start his fourth consecutive game against Brighton today after belatedly making his debut last month, is adamant he is up to the task, while claiming United fans have not seen the best of him.

“I was speaking to John after he left and he kind of apologised for bringing me here and then leaving me,” said Gowling. “But Greg has taken over and knows me well.

“To be honest, not everyone knows what I can do – I’ve played a few games now and I’ve not played anywhere near to what I’m capable of.

“I’ve got a lot more to come and I hope the fans are a bit patient with me. I’m sure it’s the same for a lot of the lads at the moment, but it will come.”

Gowling claims Abbott has applied a more “aggressive” management style since Ward’s exit.

“He gets in your face a lot more and we are doing different things on the training pitch,” said the centre-half. “We are doing a lot more work on the opposition and just working on a few little things that can make a massive difference, like closing down a bit quicker and working on our deliveries from the back.”

Gowling believes the imminent return to fitness of key players like Paul Thirlwell, Michael Bridges and Chris Lumsdon will add vital experience to the Blues’ bid to get away from the League One danger zone.

And he insists Abbott’s squad is far superior to the Bournemouth ranks with whom Gowling suffered relegation last term.

“If I can give the boys some of my experience from last season, I’ll do that,” he said. “We went down with a good team at Bournemouth, and Carlisle have got a 10-times better team, so you’ve got to take positives from that.

“We know we are not playing well, and the defenders are a bit tentative, but at times like this you’ve got to pull together and if we do that we will get through it.”

Gowling faces a busy afternoon tackling Brighton’s classy veteran frontman Nicky Forster today, a man the defender says is “playing well below his level”.

And on the managerial situation at Brunton Park, he added: “I’ve had a lot of managerial changes at other clubs and it needs to get resolved soon.

“Everyone wants to know what’s going on. Greg came in last year and by all accounts did a splendid job. I think he deserves a chance.

“He is working hard, the lads are behind him and hopefully the board will give him the job.”