Former Preston North End defender signs for Carlisle United

The 19-year-old left PNE in the summer after being released at the end of his contract.

Armer came through the North End academy and signed professional in July 2019.

He went on loan to Lancaster City for the first-half of last season and played 22 games, scoring three goals.

At the end of November he was recalled to Deepdale to cover a spate of injuries in the PNE back four.

That saw him named on the bench for the 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on December 2.

In January Armer rejoined Lancaster on loan, that stay brought to a halt in March by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Lostock-Hall teenager can count himself unlucky to have been released by North End.

PNE had a year’s option on him and the reports they had back from Lancaster were very positive.

When talking before the end of the season about the young players released, Armer was name-checked by Preston boss Alex Neil.

He is a Scotland Under-19 international, his Scottish links coming from his mum’s side of the family.

Armer has signed a one-year contract with Carlisle with an option to extend.

Carlisle manager Chris Beech told this club’s official website: “Jack’s a really good signing for us, perhaps a work in progress.

“I was aware of him at Preston and we had a little look at him in January.

“At the time we were at full capacity for loans, and Preston were only interested in loaning him out.

“He had been out at Lancaster, playing men’s football, and he did incredibly well. So much so that he was recalled by Alex Neil and added to their first team, making the bench.

“Fast forward a couple of months and the pandemic hits. Jack, along with all out-of-contract young players, suffered as a consequence from that when he possibly shouldn’t have done, and he then found himself without a deal and available.”

“I know first-hand how highly-rated he was by the staff at Preston, including by Alex Neil.

“Perhaps one day Jack will go on to be one of those that they feel they should have kept, which they’d say with their best wishes, but I’m delighted he’s with us.”