Gavin Skelton says Sam Fishburn will be keen to build on his first taste of first-team football at Carlisle United.

The 17-year-old striker was handed his senior debut against Everton’s Under-21s in the Papa John’s Trophy last night.

Fishburn came off the bench for the last 20 minutes at Brunton Park having returned from a successful loan spell at Lancaster City.

United will now weigh up the next step for Fishburn, who is wanted on loan by other clubs higher up the non-league pyramid.

Assistant boss Skelton said: “Hopefully there’s more to come, and Sam doesn’t want just 20 minutes, he wants to start in a league game.

“It’s a taste but only a taste for the likes of Sam – it’s the start of the road for them, hopefully it makes them train even harder than they do and have the bit between their teeth to get in that first team.”

Fishburn hit eight goals for Lancaster, prompting Carlisle to recall him early from the loan deal which had been due to run until January.

Skelton says the young frontman, who was handed professional terms this summer, has benefited from his time with the Dolly Blues.

“He’s really enjoyed it,” the assistant boss said. “He was always keen to tell you when he scored…

“He had a good run for them, and from speaking to their manager, they were really pleased with him and saw a lot of development in him.

“There’s still a lot of work to do with him. But the hardest thing to do is score goals and he does do that – he’s shown that at Lancaster, he does it in training, he’s enjoyed it tonight…but it will be back down with a bump tomorrow because he’s in college at half eight…”

Fishburn was not the only player to make his Carlisle debut in last night's 2-0 win, with Arsenal loan defender Jonathan Dinzeyi also getting his first outing.

He played the full game at centre-half alongside captain for the night Morgan Feeney as Carlisle achieved a clean sheet.

“He’ll be pleased,” Skelton said of Dinzeyi.

“It’s nice for everyone to have a proper look at him in a game, and nice for us to get him on the first team pitch.

“He’s starting to really bed into the group and that’s pleasing. Hopefully he enjoyed his work.

“You saw his qualities at times, and hopefully he’ll feel better for getting first team action out on that pitch as well.

“It’s good for him to get out there because it’s been a big change for him coming up here. He’s adapted to the group and hopefully this will help him to feel even more of a part of it.

“He hasn’t had much involvement so far but he’ll feel better for this and it was good for us to see him in a game situation.”