Chris Beech has hailed both Carlisle United’s centre-halves who helped keep an opening-day clean sheet.

New signing Corey Whelan impressed on his debut alongside the solid Rod McDonald against Colchester.

They formed United’s new centre-half pairing on the day it emerged Aaron Hayden was Wrexham-bound.

Head coach Beech was quick to praise former Liverpool and Wigan man Whelan, 23, for his composed performance.

“I told David [Holdsworth, director of football] and my staff, he [Whelan] is a very good football player who is completely consistent in all positions,” Beech said.

“He doesn’t have a best position, but towering headers, bringing the ball down, regaining and retaining the ball…it was good.

“He hardly gives the ball away and really well done to him – in fact, both centre backs were excellent.”

The more experinced McDonald also turned in a good performance as United limited Colchester to few chances in the Brunton Park 0-0 draw.

Beech said of the former Wimbledon, Coventry and Northampton man: “He was very strong, really committed.

“Rod’s come back fitter, you can see that – he’s got a change of pace, he’s getting off the floor an extra yard, and I can’t recall him losing a header in the game. I can’t recall him stepping back.

“I would have liked to keep squeezing the last 15 minutes, because we were pushing for a winner. But in terms of defensive unit they were very good.”