Former Carlisle United prospect Charlie Barnes has rejoined Annan Athletic for a second spell.

The right-sided defender had been on trial with Workington Reds earlier in pre-season.

But Barnes has instead now opted to sign for Wullie Gibson's side in Scottish League One.

It will be a second spell for the defender who initially played for Annan from 2021 to 2023.

He then moved on to Lancaster City and spent last season with the Dolly Blues in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

The manager who signed him at the Giant Axe, Mark Fell, ran the rule over right-back Barnes at Workington this summer, the 22-year-old featuring against Carlisle United.

Barnes was a United youth player who earned a professional deal at Brunton Park before leaving in 2021.

He has joined ahead of Annan's League One opener at Cove Rangers on Saturday.

Barnes links up with an Annan side who turned in some strong performances in the Premier Sports Cup, with victories over Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Arbroath.

Gibson, who replaced Peter Murphy at the helm this summer, will be in charge of his first league game.

Annan face a Cove side who finished fifth in League One last term.

Gibson, speaking to Annan's official channels, said: "We're raring to go.

"We've had a good pre-season and some good performances in the Premier Sports Cup, where we were unlucky not to qualify.

"Hopefully we can take the performances into the league on Saturday.

"I don't think there's going to be any easy game in the league - it's going to be very competitive.

"I don't think there will be a team like Falkirk last year who ran away with it, I think it will be much closer.

"Hopefully we can put ourselves in a position where we can challenge in the top half of the table."

Murphy, meanwhile, will take charge of his first league game with Queen of the South when the Doonhamers go to Alloa Athletic.