Carlisle United have signed a new striker on loan - 19-year-old Joshua Kayode from Rotherham.

The teenager has linked up with the Blues until the end of the season.

Kayode had spent the first half of this season playing in National League North with Gateshead, where he scored nine goals.

He is unavailable to play for the Cumbrians in tonight's FA Cup Third Round replay against Cardiff, having played for Gateshead in this season's competition.

His first opportunity to feature for Chris Beech's side will be at Oldham in Saturday's League Two game.

Kayode is likely to be at Brunton Park to watch his new team-mates try to oust Championship opposition from the cup.

His arrival comes with United in urgent need of extra attacking threat.

Kayode also takes Carlisle's quota of loan players up to six, after the departure of Elias Sorensen back to Newcastle last month.

Carlisle's other loanees are Elliot Watt, Nathan Thomas, Olufela Olomola, Ryan Loft and the out-of-favour Canice Carroll.

They can only include five in a matchday squad.

Kayode recently signed a new deal with League One outfit Rotherham, where he has come through the academy.

He has so far made three appearances for his parent club, all in the EFL Trophy, and is yet to make his Football League debut.

Carlisle head coach Beech said on the club website: "He's a player who is young, ambitious, and he wants to come here and make an impact. He's 100% up for this opportunity and he wants to come in and do as well as he can. 

"He's got his career in front of him and he's making good inroads at Rotherham.

"He's been out and played men's football at Gateshead in the first half of the season and was excellent for them. 

"Rotherham have a development plan for him in terms of when he'll be ready for their first team but, because of his progression at Gateshead, he's actually six months in front of himself which has meant we've been able to take him on loan. 

"He's recently signed a new contract at Rotherham, and he'll bring physicality and pace as well as goals to our team.

"He's scored plenty of goals for Gateshead already and we're looking for him to carry that on."

He had been linked with other League Two clubs, including Scunthorpe, as Rotherham recalled him. Millers boss Paul Warne said they had brought Kayode back to the New York Stadium so he could look at his progress in training ahead of another potential loan move.

Kayode told Rotherham's website that he was excited for the challenge, and that he had spoken to the Millers' former Carlisle loan striker Jerry Yates - now at Swindon - about the Cumbrians.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it and it’s going to be a real test because it’s a Football League club and that’s something new to me.

"Being at Gateshead has allowed me to realise what three points mean, but the stakes are even higher this time.

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer at Carlisle and he’s told me exactly what he expects from me, so I’m just going to go there and give everything I’ve got.

“The staff at Rotherham invited me into their office and they all spoke to me about the plan moving forward, and they were all really complimentary about my development which I’m happy to hear. They now think this is the perfect move for me to continue improving as a footballer.

“Getting into the league was the next objective for me and I’m delighted that is happening. I’m full of confidence right now and I’m going to try my best for the team.

“I’ve spoken to Jerry Yates about Carlisle and he just told me straight up that it’s a great club, so I’m up for the challenge.”

United, meanwhile, are understood to be trying to make further signings to boost their survival bid in League Two.

Beech recently said the situation with another player - understood to be a different target to Kayode - was "at the solicitors, waiting for a rubber stamp", and that the individual would be having a medical.