Jarrad Branthwaite says he's keeping his feet on the ground despite scouts' attention and making Carlisle Utd history

The 17-year-old, who became the Blues’ youngest-ever goalscorer this week, has been regularly watched by scouts from bigger clubs.

A number were at Morecambe to see Branthwaite score in what turned out to be Steven Pressley’s final game in charge. But the level-headed teenager, from Wigton, says he is not being distracted by the extra attention.

“I don’t really take any notice of that sort of thing,” Branthwaite said. “I just concentrate on playing my own game and trying my best for the team to make sure we get the results.

“I do find it quite easy because I’m humble and I don’t get carried away.

“My family have all been great with me too, talking me through things and keeping my feet on the ground.”

Branthwaite’s rapid rise at United continued with his moment of Blues history, his goal coming at the age of 17 years and 138 days – breaking Rob Edwards’ 29-year-old record.

It came in just his eighth professional appearance and, in his first interview since breaking into the United side – conducted before Pressley’s dismissal – the centre-half admitted it was a special moment.

“There was space in front of me and we’re all encouraged to go with the ball if that happens,” he said.

“I knew I was in a good place to do that so I went for it. The further I got the more I thought that there was going to be a chance to shoot, so I went for that as well.

“It was an amazing feeling when I saw it go in,” he added. “I had it in my mind where I wanted to put it and I’m just glad it was out of the keeper’s reach.

“I didn’t really know what to do with the celebration and I had no idea it was a record, or anything like that.

“Scoring a goal for the club is obviously something I’ve wanted to do, and there’s been a couple of half chances from set-pieces, so hopefully there’ll be a few more.

“I just wish it had been a goal that had helped us to win because that’s the most important thing for everybody on the night. Me scoring is good personally, but it’s not about that, it’s about winning games.”

Branthwaite also received the captain’s armband in Tuesday’s second half – another potential record-breaking United feat – when Nathaniel Knight-Percival was substituted.

“It’s all absolutely unbelievable, it really is,” he said. “With the armband, Nat handed it to me when he was walking off and I was going over to give it to Christie [Elliott].

“He smiled at me and said something like ‘just get it on’ as he waved me away, so I did. Obviously the game was going on at the time, so I didn’t think too much more of it, but it’s afterwards when people are talking about it possibly being a record that it sinks in.

“It’s the club I’ve supported all my life and now I’ve scored, and I’ve also been captain. It’s crazy really.”

Branthwaite said it is a “dream come true” to be playing for United’s first team and is eager to keep progressing.

He said: “I used to go to all of the home games then when I joined the academy at eight or nine I became an even bigger fan.

“I feel like I’ve watched Danny Grainger for a long time, then obviously when I was training with the first team at times last year he was still here, and he was great with me.

“I’ve always supported us and been around this club so it’s a real dream come true.

“I do have to pinch myself a little bit but I’m just enjoying every minute of it at the moment. I’ve just got to keep pushing on and make sure I keep playing well for the team.

“[The other players] have been really good with me and they’ve helped me settle in. I’m feeling happy and comfortable around the place.”

The centre-half is likely to keep his place when United go to Port Vale tomorrow and Branthwaite says he is keen to continue learning.

He credits extra work on the training ground with Carlisle’s coaches for his development and, on his first-team experience so far, said: “It’s a lot quicker than youth team football, you have to be concentrating all of the time and moving around, there isn’t much time to rest at all.

“My confidence has gone up a lot recently because I’ve been playing and performing quite well.

“I’ve played football all my life so I am really enjoying playing at first-team level, but I’m just focused on improving and making sure I’m ready to play when I get my chances.”

Branthwaite’s short career has also already seen a game on live TV when he played in United’s FA Cup victory at Dulwich Hamlet last Friday.

He admitted he had “a few butterflies” before the game but enjoyed the occasion.

“I got a few messages before the game to say everyone would be watching so there was a little bit more pressure, but that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

“I was nervous, but if you want to be a footballer you’ve got to be able to deal with that type of thing.”

After outings in the Leasing.com Trophy, Branthwaite was handed his league debut against Plymouth last month and revealed the encouragement he received from Pressley.

“He [Pressley] told me to be confident because I was playing for a reason,” Branthwaite said.

“He just wanted me to prove to myself and to him that I was good enough to be there, and just to make sure I played my own game.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a confident lad but I know my ability and how I can play, so I’m just concentrating on that and trying to continue pushing on.

“At the start of the season I did think I might get a couple of appearances in the Trophy and that would have been really good for me at my age, but to be in the first team for league games and pushing for a place every week is fantastic.

“It’s helped my confidence a lot and I’ll just keep pushing.”

Branthwaite also said he is learning a lot from experienced players such as Adam Collin and Byron Webster and, on his own playing style, said: “I’d like to think of myself as a ball-playing centre-half. I like to come out with the ball and show what I can do, but I’m a defender first and foremost so I need to make sure I win my headers and tackles, and thankfully that’s what I’ve been doing.”

While he has already progressed beyond United’s youth team, Branthwaite says he still has a close bond with the other second-year under-18 players at Brunton Park.

“The lads have all been really good with me and have all been wishing me luck and things like that,” he said.

“They’ve obviously got big decisions coming up and I’ll be there to support them as they have with me.”