Preston North End winger Ethan Walker's loan spell at Carlisle an 'excellent' opportunity says Alex Neil

Walker joined the League Two side on a season’s loan on Saturday, making his debut in the Cumbrians’ 3-0 defeat at Cambridge as a substitute.

Having had loan spells last season at Altrincham and Stalybridge Celtic, this is a big step up for the 18-year-old.

The loan deal has a recall clause in January if necessary.

Neil said: “It’s an excellent move for him.

“What I could have done is keep Ethan here and get him a couple of minutes here and a couple of minutes there.

“But I think for us as a club because we don’t have an Under-23s, we need to have some sort of pathway to get players ready for the first team. It’s important to get them out on loan, get them in real football then bring them back after a full season.

“They will know what it is like then to be an important player in the changing room, to be among guys who need to win to pay the mortgage.

“That is a fundamental part of finding out if you are cut out to be a footballer.

“In these loan spells lads need to show their quality and make an impact.

“This is a great move for Ethan, I’m really excited for him. I expect him to go there and do well.

“It’s at a good level for him after he went into non-league last season.

“Sometimes in non-league you are looking at their physical aspect more than anything.

“With Ethan we want to see his tactical and technical aspects.”

North End would like to get loans for Adam O’Reilly and Jack Baxter too.

The pair were an age group older than Walker in the academy, with O’Reilly making his first-team debut in the same game as Walker in December 2018.

Said Neil: “We need to get them loans too, that is a pathway we have to try and create.”

Carlisle manager Chris Beech is pleased to have got the chance to add Walker to his squad, one which contains ex-PNE defender Jack Armer.

Beech said: “Ethan’s an extremely talented young player, and very well thought of by Alex Neil and the staff at Preston North End.

“Having done his pre-season with their first team he’s in great shape and game-ready, having started against Everton recently.

“He’s an exciting player that can play anywhere across the frontline.

“Technically he’s very good, he’s quick, strong and dynamic with his movement, and at youth-team level he’s continuously hit double figures with his goals.”