Youth second year keeper Isaac Robinson had a real baptism of fire on Saturday as he played for Danny Grainger’s Workington side in their 2-2 away draw with Pickering Town.
The 18-year-old joined the Reds on a work experience loan, which gives both clubs and the player flexibility on how and when he is used.
Speaking about the move, manager Chris Beech said: “Eric [Kinder] has three keepers, and that’s quite unique really.
“You don’t often get three youth team goalkeepers; normally you’d have one second year with a first year supporting it.
“With Isaac, he’s trained with Steve Collis and he’s been around our environment, so he’s got to play men’s football.
“There’s a connection between the clubs, so supporting our local clubs is something that we’ll always try our best to do. It helps with the other young professionals who can’t help us get three points currently.
“Whether they can or not in the future will be determined over the next 12 months, it’s up to them to go and do it.”
“That’s why Ethan Walker is here from Preston. You can see he’s technically very good. But he will have to find his feet here to go back there and make difference.
“Maybe some of our lads can with what they’re doing with their loan spells, and it helps us for next summer to suggest who we keep or who we release.”
Having spoken to the young stopper after the weekend game, youth boss Eric Kinder said: “Isaac is an honest lad and he said he was at fault for the second goal in the Workington game on Saturday.
"He said their players and staff helped him through it and at the end of the game he made a few good saves, so it’s good that he didn’t let that mistake bother him.
"It’s good learning for him and we’ll see how it progresses.”
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