Chris Beech says he has enlisted former Carlisle United defender Simon Grand to keep tabs on Louis Gray’s performances at Chester.

United keeper Gray last week joined the National League North promotion-chasers on a 28-day loan.

It saw him link up with a number of former Blues at the Deva Stadium in the shape of experienced defenders Grand and Danny Livesey and midfielder George Glendon.

Beech played alongside Grand during his time at Rochdale and says he wants the defender, who played for Carlisle from 2004-7, to report back on Gray’s progress.

The Blues boss said: “I rang Simon Grand up straight away.

“I said, ‘Keep your eye on him, Grandy, make sure he’s doing the right things’. I want to know how he’s getting on when I can’t make the games.”

Beech said it was imperative Gray got the chance of competitive first-team football with the keeper in the final months of his United deal.

The loan also allows the Blues boss to take a closer look at Sheffield United loanee Marcus Dewhurst, who has stepped up to the bench to be Adam Collin’s immediate understudy at Carlisle.

Beech said: “Louis is getting to his mid-20s and has not played [much] regular football.

“He trains ever so hard and is a very good professional.

“For us to make a judgement, I need to see him play for Chester in pressured games where he’s trying to win that league and get promoted for them, in a team.

“Marcus has come on loan from Sheffield United and that was great business again. Without giving too much away, cost wise it was a no brainer on our part.

“He’s an England [youth] international and wants to make strides in professional football.”

Beech says he wants Dewhurst, 18, to push Collin for his place.

He also said it was important Carlisle had a 24-hour recall clause in Gray’s loan move in the event of Dewhurst being called up by England’s Under-19s during his time with United.

The Blues head coach said: “Marcus has every right to say, ‘I want to play’, and so has Louis.

“We’ve got a 24-hour recall and it’s vital I got that.

“It allows Marcus to get changed, Louis to play first-team football, and for us to be stronger if there’s a change needed to be made in the future. Louis is match-ready and Marcus is probably going to get called up for England.”

Gray kept a clean sheet on his Chester debut against Tranmere in their 1-0 Cheshire Senior Cup win on Tuesday and could make his first league appearance against Bradford (Park Avenue) on Saturday.