The son of former Carlisle United boss Graham Kavanagh could face the Blues this season after joining one of their League Two rivals.

Middlesbrough's highly-rated forward Calum Kavanagh has linked up with Harrogate Town on a half-season loan.

The 18-year-old has caught the eye with some impressive goalscoring exploits for Boro's Under-23s this season.

Now he will aim to make his mark in first-team football for League Two's 12th-placed side, who host Carlisle on April 23.

Republic of Ireland youth international Kavanagh has risen through the ranks at Boro and signed professional terms in 2020.

He will now work under another former Blues man in Paul Thirlwell, who is assistant manager at Harrogate.

Boss Simon Weaver said on the club website of Kavanagh junior: "Calum is an exciting forward who will cause no end of problems for opponents with his tenacity, pace and ability, we’re convinced of that.

"He’s a determined player on the pitch, a good character and fits in with what we want in the squad which is hungry, go getting players with a belief and presence on the pitch.”

Kavanagh's father recently spoke of how some of his experiences at Carlisle had helped expose Calum to the realities of professional football.

Speaking in The Sun, the ex-United player, coach and manager, who was at Brunton Park from 2008-14, said: "He [Calum] has a tough mindset which is probably coming from me and my wife.

“We don’t butter things up for him; if he’s not doing X, Y or Z, he gets told.

“And he’s already seen the harshness of football. He would have been in the dressing room as a kid when I was manager of Carlisle United.

“Seeing that disappointment of players getting released, not getting new contracts, that’s probably helped him in a way.

“Sometimes you’re delivering a message in a a harsh way but that’s to prepare him for a tough environment which doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”