LEE CLARK is confident Town can fight off competition from Dundee United to keep Danny Cadamarteri on board.

The Scottish Premier League club’s manager Craig Levein was at the Galpharm to run the rule over the 28-year-old as Town beat Carlisle 1-0 yesterday.

Cadamarteri, who made his 33rd appearance of the season as Clark’s side went ninth in League I thanks to Andy Booth’s 78th-minute winner, is out of contract this summer.

Sources North of the border say Levein is keen on the former Everton, Leeds and Bradford frontman, who joined Town from Leicester during the 2007 close-season.

But Clark said: “I’d envisage we will talk to Danny over the coming days, he has indicated his desire to stay and I can’t see why he would want to uproot his family.”

Of concerns over Cadamarteri’s fitness record, Clark said: “I know what’s gone on in the past regarding injuries.

“But up to Hartlepool (in February, when he suffered a calf injury) he had a terrific run with us and he’s been terrific since he’s come back.

“Hopefully, with the staff I have in place, we can keep injuries down to a minimum and get him onto the pitch on a regular basis, because when he is on the pitch, he invariably makes a massive contribution.”

l Match in focus – Pages 32, 34 & 35.