Manager Keith Millen has praised the work of Carlisle United’s academy after one of the Blues’ young goalkeepers caught England’s eye.

Teenager Scott Simons has been invited to a goalkeeper development training camp in the national set-up at St George’s Park.

Millen said it was a well-earned opportunity for the 18-year-old – and also an endorsement of the youth set-up at Brunton Park.

Millen said he was “really chuffed” for Simons to get such an opportunity.

He added: “I pulled him into the office when we got the letter, and wound him up a little bit – ‘do you realise why you’re in my office?’

“He didn’t know. I made out that he’d done something wrong. Then we told him the news…

“It’s brilliant for the lad, and it’s great for the academy as well.

"The recognition for someone being picked for a training camp is great reward for the lad but also the academy for the work they’ve done.”

Simons has been in the first-team squad in recent games as understudy to Mark Howard.

Gabe Breeze is another promising teenage keeper in United’s ranks.

Millen added: “We’re lucky we’ve got two very good young keepers here, and because of the injuries, Scott’s had his chance to be on the bench and around the first team which will help him.

“Hopefully he goes there [to St George’s Park] and does his best, and I think his best should be good enough.

“You don’t know what England are looking for but it’s a great opportunity and will be a great experience for him. It’s really good that he’s been selected.”

Simons will be away from Sunday to Wednesday, meaning Breeze is likely to step up to the bench for next Tuesday’s league trip to Mansfield.

The young keepers are getting their chance to be around the first team at a time senior keeper Magnus Norman is on the comeback trail from injury, and loanee Lukas Jensen is also sidelined.