Rookie defender Macaulay Gillesphey insists he will be a better player for his early nightmares in the Carlisle United back four.

The Newcastle loanee is back on track with the Blues having scored his first professional goal in the win against Yeovil.

That followed a difficult spell for the 19-year-old after an error-strewn display against Morecambe last month.

Gillesphey, now eyeing his first FA Cup game for United at Plymouth on Saturday, believes he will be stronger for the experience.

He said: “I’d rather it happened now, when I’m a young player, than later in my career.

“I can learn from it now. It helps you mentally, how to deal with things like this.

“It was a struggle for me, but you’re only as good as your last game, so hopefully the fans are realising I’m better than what I was that [Morecambe] game.”

Gillesphey felt he “owed it to the team” to make a positive contribution against Yeovil, even though his displays have been sound other than in the Morecambe game on October 10.

His debut goal against the Glovers came after he had come off the bench as a first-half sub, replacing Bastien Hery in a tactical change by manager Keith Curle.

The Toon youngster was set up by a corner from Newcastle team-mate Alex Gilliead.

And Gillesphey said he was thrilled to get on the scoresheet in a vital win.

He said: “I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t know what I was meant to be doing in the box – I just crept into the back post and got my head on it.

“With the few weeks I’ve had, I was absolutely buzzing to score and help the team out.

“I owed it to the team, getting us back in it, and it was a good feeling. I’d been a bit frustrated so when I did score a bit of frustration was let go.”

There is extra competition for places in defence following the arrival of Mark Ellis, whose parent club Shrewsbury have given him permission to play for United in the cup on Saturday.

Raynes’ return from injury has also intensified the battle for selection, while Troy Archibald-Henville is soon expected to be back in contention.

Gillesphey said: “It’s still going to be a struggle to get in the squad. I’m not expecting to start, because the lads out there are all good. I’ll have to keep working hard.

“I’m really looking forward to the FA Cup. I don’t know what to expect but I hope I’m involved.”

Gilliead will miss Carlisle’s trip to Bristol Rovers on November 14 after being called up by England’s Under-20s.

The forward will join up with the squad this Sunday, ahead of a double-header against France next Wednesday and then three days later, in St Brieuc and Ploufragan respectively.