Teenage Carlisle United defender Josh O’Brien has been sent for an X-ray after being stretchered off in his latest loan appearance.

O’Brien suffered an ankle injury in the second half of Carlisle City’s midweek 3-1 victory over Birtley Town on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old has been on crutches since and United are now awaiting the results of further hospital assessments.

Blues joint caretaker boss Steven Rudd told the News & Star: “Josh was involved at Carlisle City on Tuesday, got stretchered off and his ankle is really big.

“He’s on crutches and he was going for a scan [on Thursday] afternoon - an X-ray up at the hospital.

“The physios looked at it [on Thursday] morning and they thought the best course of action was an X-ray scan.

“So we're just waiting for the results of that back.”

O’Brien has been a regular in Dan Kirkup’s City side in Northern League Division One since joining them on a half-season loan.

The academy product is on a third-year scholarship deal with the Blues.

While O’Brien is set to miss out for City when they take on Easington Colliery this weekend, two of his fellow Blues teenagers are embarking on new loan spells.

Jake Allan and Aran Fitzpatrick joined Workington Reds this week on work experience deals until the end of December, and made their first appearances in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Blyth Spartans.

The 18-year-old pair will aim for another outing when Mark Fell’s side go to Matlock Town on Saturday in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Workington have had to be patient to secure the services of the young duo, who were kept around the first-team squad at United early in the season because of United’s injury situation.

Allan went on to score on his senior debut against Nottingham Forest Under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Rudd said: “In all honesty, we thought they would go out at the start of the season, but with the injuries and things here, we've needed them.

Jake Allan, pictured, and Aran Fitzpatrick have gone on loan to Workington RedsJake Allan, pictured, and Aran Fitzpatrick have gone on loan to Workington Reds (Image: Richard Parkes)

“And to be fair to them, they've done well when they've been in and around the first team group and they've probably deserved to be a part of it.

“But we think now, because they've had a good taste of football here now, it’s a good time to go out and play men's football.

“Game time here will be limited. They could still play youth team football, but they've both played for Workington last year and we want them to play that level again, if not even higher.

“It’s a great experience for them. Saturday, at 3pm, in front of a crowd is where they need to be, not youth team games that they've played now for two and three seasons.

“It’s up to both of them, and the same with Josh at Carlisle City, to come back a better player, and be closer to affecting the first team here.

“They're still third year scholars, so they're still only 18 years old, but it'll only be successful if they approach it with the right attitude, right mentality, and come back here a better player than when they left.”