Teenage Carlisle United player Charlie Birch is the latest Blues youngster to head out on loan.

The 18-year-old has joined two United team-mates at Kendal.

Left-sided Birch has signed for the Northern Premier League Division One North West club on a season-long deal.

It sees him link up with fellow first-year professionals Liam Lightfoot and Charlie Barnes at the south Cumbrian club.

United said it would provide important first-team football experience for Birch, who is the son of former Blues defender and current under-18s coach Mark Birch.

Assistant manager Gavin Skelton said: “As with Charlie Barnes and Liam, we know we’re sending Charlie to a good club who do things the right way.

“It’s first team football at a good level and it’s a great way to gain valuable experience.

"We’ll still see him in training and we’ll be monitoring him closely, as we are the other lads, and it’s another example of a situation that benefits everybody.”

Lightfoot scored for the Mintcakes in their 3-1 friendly defeat to AFC Blackpool last weekend.

The United trio could feature for Kendal today in their FA Cup preliminary round tie against Bishop Auckland.