CARLISLE UNITED Exclusive By Jon Colman

Last updated at 07:33, Friday, 16 October 2009

Carlisle United’s teenage striker Gary Madine is being lined up for a shock loan move to Championship side Coventry City.

Gary Madine in action at Morecambe

Madine, who has only been on the fringes of Greg Abbott’s first team at Brunton Park this season, is wanted by Sky Blues manager Chris Coleman on a three-month deal.

Coleman has long been a fan of the big 19-year-old and wants to assess the Gateshead-born player’s potential in the second tier, according to sources in the Midlands. The move is certain to raise eyebrows among fans of both United and Coventry, given that Madine has yet to prove himself on a consistent basis for Carlisle in League One.

It is understood the Ricoh Arena outfit have registered their interest with United and hope to speak to Madine early next week.

The 6ft 4in teenager has been absent from training this week through illness and is unlikely to feature for the Cumbrians in their League One clash at Yeovil tomorrow (Huish Park, 3pm).

He has scored just once this season, when he came off the bench to hit United’s second goal in the 2-0 Carling Cup victory at Bristol City in August.

Madine’s campaign then took a controversial twist when he was arrested and fined for being drunk and disorderly in Carlisle less than two weeks later.

That led to disciplinary action from Abbott, while the striker has since been pushed further down the pecking order by the arrival this week of Vincent Pericard, who is set to make his debut for the Blues tomorrow.

The arrival of Pericard, joining Scott Dobie, Joe Anyinsah and Richard Offiong as Abbott’s senior strikers, prompted speculation Madine could make a loan move in order to get first-team football. But news that he is poised to move up a division will come as a major surprise.

Coventry, however, have monitored Madine ever since they tried to sign him before the frontman penned a three-year professional contract with the Cumbrians last year.

The Sky Blues, whose goalkeeper is former United star Keiren Westwood, are currently 11th in the Championship.

Former Juventus, Portsmouth and Stoke striker Pericard, meanwhile, could go straight into the United side tomorrow as manager Abbott seeks a first win in seven league games to take the Blues out of League One’s bottom four.

The big Frenchman, who has signed until January 12, impressed in a practice match in training yesterday and could take the place of either Joe Anyinsah or Scott Dobie against the Glovers.

“Vincent has definitely given me a selection problem with the way he has trained,” said Abbott.

“He looks fit and ready, and he has to make an immediate impact, whether it is from the bench or from the start.”

Abbott admits the league table currently makes unpleasant reading for the Blues but is adamant they are ready to turn the corner, starting at Huish Park.

“You can’t ignore the table and it is a concern, but you cannot dampen the energy, enthusiasm and the quality of the work the lads are doing,” he said.

“If you string two or three results together you can leap eight or nine places in no time. We are capable of doing that and taking us to what we think is our rightful position.

“After 15 games, I would like to think we will be out of this area and be in mid-table at least.”

United’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy quarter-final at Chesterfield on Tuesday, November 10 will kick-off at 7.30pm. Under-15s can watch the game for £1.

First published at 05:22, Friday, 16 October 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk