Premier League prospect Lukas Jensen believes Carlisle United is the ideal place for him to make his mark in first-team football.

The Burnley keeper made his home debut in Saturday’s 1-0 pre-season defeat to Blackpool.

It came after Jensen joined the Cumbrians on loan to compete for the No1 slot with Magnus Norman in the 2021/22 season.

Danish keeper Jensen has spoken for the first time about his season-long move to Cumbria, which follows a loan spell in Iceland with Kordrengir.

He said: “I got the call from Chris [Beech], the manager, and we had a good conversation.

“We were talking back and forth and he liked me, and I liked what the club is doing here.

“We have a very young squad and it’s been very easy for me to fit in. It’s a very good environment to be in, and I know what’s on the line for the squad.

“The staff at Burnley said it was a very good move. They know the gaffer here and the keeper coach, and they told me it was a good place to be. I’m very delighted to be here and it’s a really good step for me.

“I’m here to play games. That’s the way for me to progress. We play a lot of games in League Two so I will do my best to keep playing and hopefully to get in the first team squad.”

Jensen, 22, was beaten by Demetri Mitchell’s 37th-minute winner as Neil Critchley’s Championship side had the edge at Brunton Park.

United pushed Blackpool close in the second half in front of the first Brunton Park attendance of 2021 after months of Covid lockout.

News and Star: Magnus Norman came off the bench for his first outing of pre-season (photo: Barbara Abbott)Magnus Norman came off the bench for his first outing of pre-season (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Jensen – who was replaced by fit-again Norman at the break – said playing in front of the 1,863 pre-season crowd had whetted his appetite for the new campaign.

“It’s hard to put words on it,” said the Turf Moor prospect.

“It’s what we’ve been waiting for for so long now.

“I don’t know how many were here but it sounded like a lot by the noise they made. If we can get even more to the stadium, we will have a good home stadium then.”

United saw defender Morgan Feeney go off after 30 minutes after he went down injured. The centre-half jogged to the sidelines after treatment but was still replaced.

No details have yet been given about any potential injury, with neither Beech nor No2 Gavin Skelton available for post-match comment.

Jensen, meanwhile, said of the game: “We played ok, they [Blackpool] got a lucky goal, but that’s how football goes sometimes.

“They’re a Championship side now so you would expect them to dominate the ball. But it was a good test for us and what we really needed.”

And of his challenge at Brunton Park, he added: “This move is very important for me. As a young player you want to play games on the side, not sit and do nothing.

“To do it in men’s football is what you need. You get a different type of experience, like when you play league football, cos it’s so physical, and you get hit on the chest so to speak, that’s what I need.”