Carlisle United boss Chris Beech has told Carlisle United’s four teenagers who are out on loan to stake their claim for a future with the Blues.

Goalkeeper Isaac Robinson became the latest young United player to head out for first-team experience when he joined Workington Reds on Saturday.

That followed temporary moves to fellow Northern Premier League North West Division outfit Kendal Town for Liam Lightfoot, Charlie Barnes and Charlie Birch.

Youth team keeper Robinson was thrown straight into the action for Danny Grainger’s Reds on Saturday in their 2-2 draw at Pickering, while Reds return to action tonight at Radcliffe in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

Beech said it would be essential first-team football for the Cumbrian - whose move to Reds is on a work experience basis - and his fellow young Blues.

He said: “Eric Kinder [United academy manager] has three youth team goalkeepers, which is quite unique – normally you’d have one with an under-16 supporting it.

“Isaac’s got to play men’s football.

“There’s a connection between the clubs, so supporting our local clubs is something that we’ll always try our best to do.”

Lightfoot and Barnes recently joined Kendal on half-season loans with Birch later following them to south Cumbria on a season-long loan.

All three played in the Mintcakes’ 2-0 defeat at Prescot Cables on Saturday.

Carlisle’s other first-year pro, Tom Wilson, is recovering from injury.

Beech added: “It helps with the other young pros who can’t help us get three points currently. Whether they can or not in the future will be determined over the next 12 months. It’s up to them to go and do it.

“That’s why Ethan Walker’s here from Preston. You can see he’s technically very good. But he will have to find his feet here to go back there and make difference – and maybe some of our lads can, and it helps us for next summer to suggest who we keep or who we release.”