Joshua Kayode has praised “unbelievable” team-mate Gime Toure for helping him get off the mark for Carlisle United.

Kayode grabbed his first goal of the season in the 2-0 victory over Southend after an inspired run by summer signing Toure.

The young loan striker says the skilful Frenchman, who joined from Hartlepool recently, gives United’s attack an x-factor.

Kayode said: “I’ve got to give massive credit to Gime for his assist – it was unbelievable.

“He took on two players and created the space for me to go and score, which I did. 

“When Gime has the ball I tend to go to him so he can play me in, but the more I play with him the more I’m starting to realise I should just let him do what he wants!

“We’re all confident that he’ll get past whoever he’s up against, and I think the more we play together the better understanding we’ll get.”

Toure was United’s star man on Saturday as part of a front three in which Kayode and Omari Patrick hit the target.

It was Kayode’s first goal of his second loan spell at Brunton Park and the 19-year-old hopes it is the first of many.

“I knew as soon as I hit it that it was going in,” he said. “I was thinking of going far post but the keeper moved a little bit and there was some space at the near post so I just hit it.

“I’m up and running now. I’m not gonna look back from here. I’m gonna keep training, keep working hard and hopefully there are many more goals to come.”

Kayode said United were relieved to get a victory on the board after the previous weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Cambridge.

He hopes their improved showing against the Shrimpers will now bode well for the challenges ahead, with a trip to Scunthorpe facing Chris Beech’s side this weekend.

“On Monday and Tuesday [last week] there was a bit of tension, and then we all spoke about it and put the Cambridge game behind us,” he said.

“We knew ourselves we had to make it right this weekend. I’m happy that we did.”

Kayode’s goal, United’s second, came in front of 1,000 fans as the Cumbrians welcomed back some season-ticket holders as part of a test event.

The prospect of doing so again in the near future has been dashed by the Government’s announcement that more pilot games for supporters have been postponed due to the rise in Covid-19 infections.

The loan frontman said he had enjoyed playing in front of some of the Blues faithful at Brunton Park again.

“The pitch was unbelievable, it was my first time playing on it this season, and it was an unbelievable feeling scoring a goal in front of some fans, and hearing them cheer again,” he said.

“It gives us that extra drive to go on and put on a show for them. We want to win for ourselves but at the same time want to win for them as well. They were like a 12th man on the pitch for us; they gave us an extra push and that extra lift which I think we needed after playing in empty stadiums. 

“I’m just happy that we put on a good show for them, gave them some goals and gave them a win.”

Kayode, whose long throw was another feature of United's victory, had missed the first two games of the campaign with injury but is now ready to kick on in a blue shirt.

“I feel good and probably better than I’ve ever felt in terms of fitness,” he said.

“I’ll just keep pushing and training hard to try and score more goals for the team to help us win as many games as possible.

“We do need time to gel. It’s taken a while but it’s a brand new team with a lot of new faces, and it takes time to understand how everyone plays.

“It feels like we’re starting to get it now and I’m just happy that we’re putting it into practice on the pitch.

“We’ll now go to Scunthorpe, do the same as [on Saturday] and even more, and try and get another win.”