Carlisle United boss Chris Beech says Taylor Charters deserved his chance in the Blues side after a noticeable improvement in his work on the training ground.

The young west Cumbrian impressed on his full league debut in the Blues’ win at Walsall which put them top of League Two.

And head coach Beech explained why he gave 19-year-old Maryport midfielder Charters his opportunity.

“He got his fingers burned [earlier in the season] at Sunderland [the 5-3 EFL Trophy defeat], because Joe Riley stepped up in that game and got a place in midfield from it," Beech said.

“Taylor didn’t and struggled and came off. I did say at the time that, to improve, people have to go through these experiences.

“On our factory, our floor, I don’t want us to lose while we try and develop, I want us to hold onto wining and developing, try and mirror the two, and that’s happened.

“Taylor’s been training harder, more aggressively, and I’d noticed it. I told him, ‘You’re gonna play tomorrow’. He went, ‘Yeah, no worries’.

“I’m really pleased for him and his family. You can see in Taylor’s personality that he’s been brought up the right way.

“He listens to everything and responds to the best of his ability to anything positive or negative that comes his way.

“I push players hard, some don’t like it, but successful players have usually had some tough love at some stage in their career. Taylor is a great example of that, he’s got his head down and worked very hard, then represented Cumbria and Carlisle like that on his debut in a 2-0 away win.

“I’m so pleased for the Charters family.”

Former youth team player Charters, who was awarded his first professional contract two years ago aged 17, was involved in both Carlisle goals at the Banks's Stadium.

United had more home-grown Cumbrian players in Saturday’s squad with Lewis Bell coming on for his league debut and Josh Dixon also among the subs.

“It’s very pleasing. Well done, Carlisle lads, coming through the youth system - well done to everybody because of that,” Beech added.

“The traits and trends I’m trying to teach the young players about winning, and competing…there’s no question about it, Taylor will score goals at league level football, and no question Josh Dixon will end up in his mid-20s – if his attitude to win the ball back is strong – dominating games.

“Those are the traits you try and teach younger players, because it seems to get lost a bit in academy type football.

“You have to be careful how you coach young players now, but you have to make sure there’s a reason why.

“Any successful individual has generally had some tough love on and in them in their upbringing, whether it’s Tiger Woods, or Lewis Hamilton constantly on the track in the go-kart as a young kid…

“If we can try and stick to traits where we’re pushing them as individuals as far as possible…it’s great to see Lewi Bell on the pitch, Taylor Charters on the pitch, Josh Dixon and Sam Fishburn on the bench.

“It’s good to see and if anything it makes an older pro look over their shoulder – and that’s what we have to try and create.”