Chris Beech has spoken of his delight that captain Callum Guy is still at Carlisle United after a wave of pre-deadline speculation.

The influential midfielder had been the subject of interest from big-spending National League club Wrexham.

But a move did not materialise before the EFL transfer window closed.

United head coach Beech admitted that the thought of losing Guy had been a concern.

He has now paid tribute to the commitment shown by the former Blackpool man, and his family, to the Blues.

“Callum, first and foremost, is an unbelievable bloke,” Beech told the News & Star.

“He’s a great person, a good footballer, and that’s why I chose him to be our captain in the summer.

“He’s a good footballer, that’s obviously important, and committed.

“His partner [Abbie] gets on a train every Saturday from Preston with two kids and a pram to come and watch her potential husband play football at Carlisle and makes her way here.

“Talk about commitment. It’s superb.

“Of course you’re worried [about potentially leaving] because as a manager, unfortunately, that’s the position you get put in, unless [you sit higher] in the food chain of life.

“I have to be wary that it may happen, and try and have an answer to a question that might not be asked.

“Ultimately I’m so pleased Callum’s here. He represents everything I believe in, and what we’re doing since I came into the building.”

Wrexham, who signed United defender Aaron Hayden last month, have been making waves in the National League with other deals including those for Cambridge striker Paul Mullin, Lincoln midfielder James Jones and Cheltenham defender Ben Tozer.

The Red Dragons, backed by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny, could yet make further moves with the National League not restricted by the same transfer window as EFL clubs.

Among the other highly-rated players to remain at Carlisle after the deadline was left-back Jack Armer.

Beech was full of praise for the way the former Preston man is developing – and his commitment to the cause.

“People forget Jack’s younger than Josh Dixon, and I think he’s only six months older than Taylor Charters,” the Blues boss said.

“He’s a magnificent person, a great player and he came here not on a good wage, but he came here for opportunity and made sure he earned that right, which we did reward with a better contract.

“He’s a very good player, both defensively and attacking. It’s also his composure and emotional state in game. He’s a very reliable player.

“He actually got stitches, the day before we played Hartlepool, in a training ground thing. He missed training, had to go to hospital, and the first thing he says, because of course we were gonna make changes in the team, was, ‘I still want to play tomorrow, gaffer, because I know you had me down for playing’.

“I said ‘As long as you don’t look like [boxer] Frank Bruno that’ll be fine, I don’t want it opening up again’.

“It was right on his eyeline. Ross [Goodwin, physio] said he’d be fine heading balls. And he should have scored two goals…”