Chris Beech says promising Sam Fishburn is becoming more “professional” in his approach as his development continues at Carlisle United.

The teenage striker made his first-team debut against Everton Under-21s in midweek and will now be hoping for a place in the squad for Saturday’s league visit of Forest Green.

United are continuing to weigh up the possibility of sending 17-year-old Fishburn back out on loan after his successful stint at Lancaster City.

In the meantime head coach Beech says the young frontman has shown good progress – and now needs to do more.

“He’s become so much more professional since I had a chat with him in the summer,” Beech said.

“Johann Cruyff has a great quote about, if you’re playing 90 minutes of football you don’t have the ball for 88 minutes of that’.

“That’s why you have functions within teams to make the team harder to play against when you don’t have the ball.

“In terms of holding the ball up, movement, pressing, regaining and retaining the ball, taking two touches and not offloading it as quickly as you can so you actually give it away, they’re all things we’ve been working hard with him on.

“It’s testament to the staff, ourselves, for working hard with players sometimes behind the frontline of what you’ll see on a Saturday.

“This type of work makes sure the lads are ready for us in the future. I’m pleased with the loan he’s had so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Beech did not confirm what the immediate plan was for Fishburn, with the teenager attracting loan interest from a number of non-league clubs.

He said, though, that regular first-team football would remain hugely beneficial for the young striker’s development.

“One, you can’t do is play everybody, and two, it’s important players play games to improve while they work in an environment we’ve created here since I’ve come in,” Beech said.

“That’s where every day is an opportunity to get better, rather than rest on laurels and wait for games.

“Sam’s obviously a massive development player at the age he’s at, and the future that he may have.

“He’s got to work ever so hard to be able to do what he’s done Lancaster’s levels at our levels, and then who knows what the future may hold for him?

“He knows that, and he’s working very hard to establish himself in those traits.”