Carlisle United have brought in Bristol City defender Duncan Idehen on loan.

Paul Simpson has returned to his former club to sign the 20-year-old.

Idehen has joined the Cumbrians on a half-season loan.

And he could go straight into the squad for this weekend's League Two trip to Stevenage.

"Ideally we wanted a left-sided player and Duncan certainly fits that profile," Simpson told the club website.

"I'm looking forward to getting him working with us and to getting him integrated into the group, and I'm sure he's going to be another really good addition to our squad."

The 6ft 2in Idehen started at Norwich City's academy, where he played from 13 to 15, before a youth spell at Lincoln City.

He was around the first-team squad at 16, before joining Grimsby Town, and he went on to make eight first-team appearances for the Mariners.

He left the Mariners by mutual consent last October before joining Bristol City under their former Carlisle manager Nigel Pearson on a six-month deal in January.

He made two first-team appearances in the Championship towards the end of last season and was handed a new two-year deal in the summer.

Simpson did not work with Idehen at Ashton Gate as the United boss left the club three months before the defender joined the Robins.

But Carlisle's manager is delighted to have added Idehen at a time the Blues are depleted by injuries.

"He's a good size, he loves defending and he has a bit of pace about him. He's confident on the ball and I'm delighted that Bristol City have agreed to let him come to us," Simpson added.

"He's had appearances in the Championship and he was part of their squad during pre-season. They've got players back from injury and a decent number of centre-backs, so he's gone back to under-23s down there.

"He's not one I've worked with before, but I knew about him and I've spoken to the staff who I was with and they've given him rave reviews.

"We've had him watched this season just to confirm our thinking."