Championship clubs are running the role on teenage Penrith AFC prospect Alfie Brunskill.

It’s understood the 17-year-old forward has been for a trial at Preston North End.

And Stoke City are another club set to take a look at the promising young Cumbrian.

Brunskill has impressed after breaking into Penrith’s Northern League Division One side this season.

His progress is a feather in the cap of the Frenchfield Park club, where manager Chris Humphrey has just been sacked.

One of the men assisting Humphrey was Andy Livingstone, who is also head of academy recruitment at Preston.

Brunskill has impressed in the Bonny Blues side in recent weeks, finding the net against opponents including Billingham Town and Consett.

He has come through the ranks at Penrith.

Former boss Humphrey, interviewed by club mascot Bradley Hodgson on Saturday, said Stoke as well as Preston were offering Brunskill a week's trial.

Chairman Brian Williams told the News & Star: “He played for our academy side last year, stepped up this year and has done really well.

“He’s a sharp young character with a lot of confidence.

“He’s very tricky, confident on the ball and difficult to handle when he gets in the box.”

Brunskill was part of the Penrith side that lost 4-1 to Seaham Red Star in their final game of the season.

It left them second bottom, though final decisions on relegation have yet to be confirmed by the league.

The club, though, have axed former Preston, Motherwell and Jamaica star Humphrey after six months in charge.

The former Kendal Town boss, 34, was drafted in as Dave Hewson’s successor last October, but Penrith are now back on the hunt for a new boss.

Williams told the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald that Humphrey had given his best and been backed as much as the club could, but added: "It hasn't worked out."

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