Danny Grainger believes former Carlisle United youngsters Liam Brockbank, Ceiran Casson and Jay Kelly will “have excelled even their own expectations” with their displays this season - but one has left Borough Park for the time being.

Having been appointed as Reds’ boss ahead of their 2019/20 campaign, former Carlisle captain Grainger brought in the trio of former United youth prospects this summer.

Midfielder Casson, and defenders Brockbank and Kelly - all 18 - have made an impact in west Cumbria and all started in their 5-1 win over Ramsbottom which saw Reds extend their lead at the top of the BetVictor NPL North West Division table.

But Saturday’s appearance for Kelly, who turns 19 next week, proved to be his final one for Reds for the time being, with Kelly moving to the Midlands for the next five months to train for an engineering role with Network Rail.

Nevertheless, Grainger has been thrilled with what he has seen from Kelly, as well as Brockbank and Casson, this term.

He said: “I knew the three lads coming out of Carlisle really well.

"I coached Jay when I helped out in [Carlisle's] Academy a few years ago. Ceiran Casson and Brock [Brockbank] are two other lads that I think a lot of, as well.

“Ceiran, Brock and Jay have probably excelled even their own expectations. I think the three out of them that have come in look like they have played senior football for a while.

"They can do both sides of it now, they can mix it up but, when they need to get stuck in, they get stuck in. I knew what I was going to get from them.”

Kelly made his senior debut for Workington in the FA Cup at Newcastle Benfield, scoring his first goal in their 1-0 victory at City of Liverpool in August.

Tomorrow, Reds’ youth team will be in FA Youth Cup action at Morpeth Town.