Elias Sorensen has claimed he lost fitness during his unsuccessful loan spell at Carlisle United.

The Newcastle United striker failed to make his mark at Brunton Park and was recalled by the Magpies less than halfway through a season-long loan.

Sorensen made just 12 Carlisle appearances, including one league start, without scoring.

That came after he joined under former boss Steven Pressley last August.

Sorensen is now back with Newcastle's under-23 side, having returned to his parent club early in Chris Beech's Blues reign.

Speaking to the Premier League club's website, he said: "I feel like I'm nearly back to what I was before I went out on loan.

"I lost a bit of fitness when I went away and didn't play as much as I wanted to but I feel like I'm nearly back to full fitness.

Sorensen was speaking ahead of a derby game against Sunderland's under-23s in Premier League 2.

The Dane scored two goals in reserve games whilst at Carlisle but also often struggled to impress in second-string games.