Gavin Skelton says he will not shy from the pressure of stepping up from youth football to the front line at Carlisle United.

The new assistant manager admits there will be no hiding place when he joins boss Steven Pressley in guiding the Blues’ first team.

But the Cumbrian, who has been promoted from his role as academy coach, said he will embrace the challenge of working with United’s senior players – and the demands placed on him.

“Pressure’s good, it makes you perform to your best,” Skelton said.

“I know what’s expected of me and if I fall short on that it will come back to me.

“It’s an enjoyable workload, and we work hard in the academy and do a lot of hours with that, but [with the first team] there is more workload, more pressure, which is what you crave in football.

“The rewards are bigger, the highs are bigger, that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Skelton and United are less than two weeks away from returning for pre-season training, with the Blues hoping to make a number of signings in the meantime.

They remain in talks with several players, following this week’s addition of Harry McKirdy and Mike Jones’ agreement of a new deal.

Skelton’s involvement alongside Pressley will be another new feature of life at United and the 38-year-old believes he is a better coach for his varied experiences in the game.

They include managerial stints with Workington and Queen of the South, plus his role as Under-18s coach at Carlisle alongside former academy boss Darren Edmondson.

“I’ve had a taste of first-team football and really enjoyed it, then stepped back into youth team football which does give you a learning base,” Skelton said.

“Sometimes you need to take a step back and realise ‘I didn’t know that, I can improve on that…’

“Over the last couple of years I’ve really enjoyed working with some good people and really feel I’ve improved as a coach.

“There’s a lot more detail in it, and you pick out from the academy what you want to take into the first team. It’s almost been stepping back to step forward again.”

Although manager Pressley is currently away from the club, he and Skelton have spoken about the various aspects of the job ahead.

Skelton said: “I’ve spoken to him in the last 10-12 days since I’ve been given the job, and that relationship does start to build straight away.

“You get a feel for what the manager wants. It’s been made very clear from the club what my role entails, and what I’m expected to cover.”

The new No2 added that he is looking forward to being in the dugout and on the touchline with Pressley when United’s friendlies begin next month – and then the League Two season in August. Carlisle’s fixtures for 2019/20 are released next Thursday.

Skelton said: “I’ll maybe need some hairplugs because people in the Paddock will be looking at the back of my head! But it’s a great opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.

“It’s no different from that feeling of being a player when you’re really buzzing and it’s running through you. I can’t wait for that to come – pre-season, the first friendlies, but there’s nothing like that first game, that pressure, the excitement. That’s what this opportunity gives me.

“They’ve got the structure in place at the club and I’m part of that. We want to get into League One. That’s a long way off but that’s got to be the aim and the ambition – if you’re not aiming high, you’ve got to question yourself.

“I’m an ambitious person and ambitious for the team. In the manager I can definitely feel that off him and it’s made me feel really positive about the season.”