Teenage striker Max Brown signed his first professional deal at Carlisle United after revealing former boss Keith Curle recommended he should be kept on.

The 19-year-old was today the first of three youth players to sign senior terms at Brunton Park.

Brown will soon have a new manager to impress, with the club continuing to interview candidates to succeed Curle and a new appointment expected in the coming days.

But the promising youngster spoke of his gratitude to the outgoing boss for showing faith in his potential.

He said Curle had recommended to the club that he should be offered a deal, with former Workington Reds loanee Brown having battled back from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

"It's an extra pat on the back knowing that it was Keith [Curle] who made the recommendation for me to stay," Brown said.

"That shows that he had confidence in what I was doing, and I’ll be looking to repay that next season for the club and for whoever comes in next.”

The 19-year-old was offered a senior contract along with fellow youth players Sam Adewusi and Kieron Olsen.

With fellow teenagers and last season's first-year pros Jack Egan and Jordan Holt also offered extensions, United's senior squad is set to have a more youthful feel in 2018/19.

It is understood the new manager will also be asked to work closely with the club's academy in a bid to help United produce more home-grown talent.

Brown, meanwhile, said he was "buzzing" to have made the step up to the professional ranks.

It followed the long injury lay-off that made him fear he was "done with the game".

"The club standing by me through that was proof that they were backing me, which was really good," Brown told the club website. "I can’t thank them enough."

On his new deal he added: "I think it’s just about sunk in that it’s happened now and I’m looking forward to getting on with it when pre-season comes.

"I was very nervous on the day I came in to be given the news, but I was over the moon when I found out I was being offered a deal. There hadn’t been any indication at all about how things might go.

"I know the hard work starts now, and I know it’s going to get even harder every year. It’s up to me to earn my place in the team and to keep pushing on with my career."

Brown also paid tribute to Workington for their help during his recent loan spell.

"That was something else I was nervous about, but they made me feel really welcome," he said. "It was completely different football to the youth team because it was the men’s game and the points really mattered.

“It taught me a lot by going down there and I think that will put me in good stead for what’s to come.”