Workington Reds manager Danny Grainger believes talented on-loan youngster Taylor Charters can “bring a lot” to his squad as they look to cement their position at the top of the NPL North West Division.

The 18-year-old Whitehaven-born midfielder has come to Borough Park on an initial one-month loan from the Blues and will be looking to force his way into Grainger’s thinking over the coming weeks, starting with today’s league trip to Ossett United (3pm kick-off).

And although the Reds boss has a plethora of quality options at his disposal in the centre of the park with Brad Hubbold, Conor Tinnion, Ceiran Casson and Brad Carroll in contention, he believes Charters can add even more to their play.

“He’s a fantastic talent and a young lad who is hungry to be successful,” Grainger said.

“People say that players look at going on loan differently nowadays and see it as a bit of a backward step but I don’t think Taylor has done that.

“He’s seen it as a chance to get involved in some senior football matches as part of a demanding team who train hard and want to achieve things.

“He’s a player that will bring a lot, similar to Brad Hubbold and Conor Tinnion, and he’s got that left foot, he’s dynamic and can go past a man, he can thread a pass through and he’s also got goals in his game.”

Charters has shown his ability in front of goal with Carlisle’s under-18s already this season during their opening fixtures and has also been a regular presence in the first team’s training sessions.

He could come into the Reds side and make his debut during this afternoon’s visit to West Yorkshire as Workington look to pick up a third away league win of the season against the division’s third-bottom team.

The West Cumbrians remain a point clear at the summit of the NPL North West Division and have two games in hand on Trafford, their nearest challenger.

But the sides in sixth, seventh and eighth in the table – Marske United, Tadcaster Albion and Pontefract Collieries – look like the main threats to Workington’s lead as they have enough games in hand to overtake Reds.

Ossett, meanwhile, are level on 11 points with 16th-placed Colne and 17th-placed Widnes.