Preston North End loan watch: Ethan Walker injury scare and Hearts debut for Josh Ginnelly

The 18-year-old is on loan with the Cumbrians and hurt his shoulder in their EFL Trophy clash at the Stadium of Light.

Walker landed on his right shoulder after being tackled in the first-half of the clash which finished in a 5-3 win for Sunderland.

He had made a lively opening to the game, winning a penalty in the sixth minute.

North End loaned Walker to Carlisle at the start of the campaign, with him joining for the season.

They want him to get a run of games in the absence of an Under-23s side at Deepdale, in order to get experience under his belt.

Walker has been getting games, coming on as a sub for Carlisle’s first two matches and then starting the last three –although he only lasted 26 minutes at Sunderland.

Regular watchers of the League Two outfit have reported lively performances from the teenager.

Preston-born Walker came through PNE’s academy and made his first-team debut at the age of 16 against Aston Villa in December 2018.

In doing so, he became the youngest player to appear in a league game for Preston.

He was the only one of last season’s second-year scholars to be offered a pro deal.

Walker is one of five North End players out on loan.

Josh Ginnelly made his competitive debut for Hearts on Tuesday night in the Scottish League Cup against Inverness.

He won the penalty which led to Hearts’ winner, the winger’s shot handled in the box.

It was Hearts’ first game of the season, with the campaign starting later for Scottish Championship sides.

Second-year scholar Joe Rodwell-Grant has come off the bench twice for Chorley since joining the Magpies on a work experience loan.

He did so in their FA Cup win over Gateshead on Saturday and then in their opening National League North game at York on Tuesday.

Midfielder Jack Baxter, who is also on loan at Chorley, was an unused sub for both games.

Graham Burke, now in his second year on loan with Shamrock Rovers, is closing in on a League of Ireland title medal.

He has scored seven goals this season for the Tallaght outfit who are eight points clear at the top of the table.

Burke joined Rovers from PNE on loan in July 2019, with the agreement extended in the summer ahead of the season in Ireland resuming after being shutdown by the pandemic.

The striker's loan agreement runs until next summer when he will be out of contract at North End.