Carlisle United have praised teenage goalkeeper Scott Simons after he was selected to attend an England goalkeeping development camp.

The 18-year-old will head to St George's Park on Sunday to try and catch the eye of coaches in the national set-up.

The Blues confirmed Simons will be away from Brunton Park from December 5-8 after being invited to train at the national football centre.

It is the latest step in Simons' progress with the home-grown keeper having been on the bench for United's first team in recent weeks.

Carlisle's goalkeeping coach Dan Hanford said Simons had earned his opportunity with the England set-up and urged him to make the most of it.

“This gives him the chance to work with players from clubs who are at higher levels and it also puts him in the minds of the England coaches, particularly if he does well," said Hanford.

“It’s a great thing for him to do because it gives him a different voice and another positive experience.

“The message to him from us is that his hard work over the past few months hasn’t gone unnoticed, not just by us but by the staff he’ll work with at the camp.

"We’ve sent them footage to watch and they’ve been impressed, and the way he’s handled himself here is what earned him the step-up to the first-team environment and the bench.

News and Star: Dan Hanford (photo: Richard Parkes)Dan Hanford (photo: Richard Parkes)

“I’ve told him that he needs to go to the camp and show that he’s confident in his own ability and that he deserves to be there. If he keeps doing what he’s been doing he’ll be more than fine, and the key thing is that he goes there to enjoy it.

“Sessions like this give others the chance to see the potential he has so it’s a great opportunity for him."

Simons' absence in the early part of next week is likely to see his fellow teenage keeper, Gabe Breeze, step up to the first-team squad for next Tuesday's league trip to Mansfield.

Simons has been chosen to understudy regular No1 Mark Howard for the last seven games, with other senior keepers Magnus Norman and Lukas Jensen out injured.

The England camp is designed give young keepers the chance to showcase their skills, develop their game and experience how national team players prepare.

Notts County's Tiernan Brooks is among the other keepers invited.

Hanford told the club website he has seen Simons make good progress this season.

“I’ve seen a big change in him since around my second month with the club, because he’s settled into doing the job he knows he needs to do," the coach added.

“He’s had a bit of a growth spurt and he’s been working hard with [coaches] Greg Short and Jamie Roper in the gym.

"We don’t mind the little mistakes and mishaps that every keeper goes through, particularly the younger lads, because he’s constantly trying to do the right thing.

“On areas we highlight you can see he immediately tries to work on changing them for the better, and he likes to be challenged constantly because he wants to improve.

“It’s good to have somebody who has that mindset to work with."