Chris Beech believes he can help mould Jon Mellish into a "dominant" goalscoring midfield player at Carlisle United.

The 22-year-old, who returns to former club Gateshead tonight for Carlisle’s latest friendly (kick-off 7pm), is set to continue in the middle of the park for the Blues.

Mellish was signed last summer as a centre-half from the non-league club but Beech switched him into midfield in February.

The Blues head coach believes the position is more suited to Mellish’s particular strengths and weaknesses, and he believes the young player can make his mark there in 2020/21.

Carlisle boss Beech said: “Jon likes running, likes dribbling. As a defender he’d pass and play himself out of position. As a midfield player he’s allowable then to move, get the ball back, run after the ball, dribble, do his thing.

“He can’t help it. He’s like a dog chasing a ball. He wants to go and get the ball. Giving him the environment [to do that] now, and looking at his physicalities, it matches better.”

Mellish could easily have opened his scoring account for Carlisle last season when he attacked from midfield.

Beech said the positions he took up in those particular games were a sign the role could suit him.

Mellish also scored in United’s first friendly this summer, a 4-2 defeat at Fleetwood. Beech added: “I think he’ll be quite dominant as a midfield player, getting in the goals, winning the ball back, doing what he did for us in those two or three games.

“He had a couple of goalline clearances at Crawley, and at Cambridge he missed an easy goal. I think he’ll be a goalscoring midfield player.”

United’s boss has already made an addition in midfield this summer in ex-Bradford City man Danny Devine, while the former Oldham and Doncaster midfielder Dean Furman is understood to be training with Beech’s squad.

Furman and trialist Junior Mondal could get a chance to impress at the International Stadium tonight, while it could be a first Blues outing for their ninth and 10th summer signings Brennan Dickenson and Paul Farman.

Aaron Hayden should be fit to play after missing the Fleetwood game while Beech is monitoring the progress of Omari Patrick and Jack Armer after pre-season niggles. United’s other summer signings George Tanner, Rod McDonald, Gavin Reilly, Joshua Kayode, Magnus Norman, Joe Riley and Devine should also be involved.

Striker Kayode, who was on loan from Rotherham at Gateshead in the first half of last season, and former Heed keeper Farman could also face their former clubs.

The game is being played behind closed doors because of Covid-19 restrictions. Both clubs have said they are looking into the possibility of live-streaming.