New Carlisle United loan signing Elias Sorensen feels he is ready to play first-team football.

Highly-rated Denmark Under-21 international Sorensen, 19, today joined the Blues on a one-year loan deal from Premier League team Newcastle United.

Sorensen is available to make his United debut tomorrow against Mansfield and, having had a brief loan spell with Blackpool, making only one appearance, he hopes to get more experience of playing first-team football under his belt at Brunton Park.

"I thought I did well in the Under-23s league [the Premier League 2] in the first-half of the season last year. Obviously, I went to Blackpool which didn’t go as planned," he said.

"But I feel like I’m ready to play men’s football and I’m looking forward to this challenge here."

Describing what he hopes to bring to Carlisle's side, the frontman said: "I think I’m a hard-working striker.

"At Newcastle, I always worked hard in every game and tried to do my best. Hopefully, I can get a few goals for the team, as well."

It comes after United manager Steven Pressley yesterday said he had expected Sorensen to move elsewhere, only for the deal to fall through and Carlisle to make their move this week.

"I tried to go elsewhere before I came here but, after that didn’t go through, this was the best option for me," he explained.

"The manager [Pressley] rang me and my agent, he spoke to Shola [Ameobi] at the club at Newcastle, so this was the best option for me after that."

In January, Sorensen agreed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies.