Teenager steps up as Carlisle United goalkeeper wait goes on

The 19-year-old is set to be on the bench for the League One opener against Fleetwood Town.

Manager Paul Simpson still expects to bring in another senior keeper to challenge No1 Tomas Holy.

But Carlisle have had to wait for a breakthrough – and Simpson is happy to include Breeze in his squad.

“He will be on the bench on Saturday. He’s earned that right, he’s trained really well through pre-season,” said Simpson of the academy product.

“He actually did really well last season, and he’s really developing as a goalkeeper.”

Simpson revealed earlier this week that an expected loan arrival had been held up.

Simpson wants another senior keeper to challenge and even dislodge No1 Tomas Holy (Image: Barbara Abbott)

That deal could yet be revived but Carlisle are also looking at other options.

“We had a situation where we fully expected the guy to come in last Monday, but [his] club decided he needed to extend his contract and he hadn’t done it,” said Simpson.

“That’s fallen by the wayside. We have other things that we’re working away in the background.

“But I made a decision, speaking to Greg [Abbott, head of recruitment] on Wednesday evening, that I don’t want any disruption before Saturday’s game.

“I want us to focus on what we’ve got. So this is what we’re going with and over the next few weeks we’ll make a decision.

“We need another goalkeeper in, that’s for sure. We’ve got two at the moment and that’s not enough.

“I know with the goalkeeper you have the emergency loan situation that we could do, but I don’t want to be in that position.

“I want to be able to have an extra keeper in, somebody who will challenge to be a No1, somebody who will keep Tomas on his toes and maybe even dislodge him.”

Simpson had ex-Newcastle United keeper Dan Langley on trial for most of pre-season but decided against offering him a deal.

Breeze has been in the first-team squad throughout pre-season and got an outing in the friendly against Chorley.

He also made a one-off appearance for Danny Grainger's Workington Reds in a friendly against Dumbarton.

The Penrith prospect had a short-lived loan at Widnes last season and Simpson is keen for Breeze to get more first-team experience.

He added: “In my opinion he hasn’t had enough games for me to throw him into the first team if I had to start him.

“I don’t think you can go with just two keepers, you need a minimum of three.

“In an ideal world I’d like four, but finances will probably dictate that.

“We’ll keep working to try and get the right person in, somebody who’ll be a real good addition to the group, someone who will not just push Tomas but bring Gabe on as well.”