Carlisle United have confirmed the signing of an Aston Villa forward on a season-long loan deal.
The Blues have snapped up 18-year-old Brad Young, who signed professionally with the Premier League side in July 2019.
He was immediately promoted to the under-18 squad and scored seven goals in his first nine appearances.
He featured in the EFL Trophy group game against the Blues in November.
His debut for the Villans was memorable, playing the last 30 minutes in the 4-1 FA Cup defeat at the hands of Liverpool in January.
He was part of the youngest ever squad to be named by Villa in a professional game after coronavirus forced the first-team squad into isolation.
Young was also one of 16 debutants, the most in a single game in Villa’s history.
Blues Manager Chris Beech said: “Brad joins us today on-loan from Aston Villa. He’s a young forward player we’ve been aware of for a while.
“Some of you will be familiar with him when he appeared in the Trophy game against us for Villa last season.
“To a man, all of our staff were impressed with his performance for a young away side that night. He was continuously running and working our backline, which just goes to show for any young player, it’s important to make that impression because you never know who’s watching and what can come from it.
“In terms of playing style Brad’s a centre forward,” he continued. “He’s highly thought of by the staff at Villa and he comes in with having scored a brace against Nottingham Forest on Friday night for the under-23s.
“Like every player I want to recruit, Brad has those key attributes we’re looking for. As well as being a talented player, importantly he has that hunger and desire to do well and he wants to make his reputation in senior football.
“He’s a player who works tirelessly, pressing and working from the front, and he has very good movement and an eye for goal, with an exceptional goals-to-games ratio as he’s progressed through youth football.
“There were a number of teams, including those in higher leagues, who had Brad on their radar and I’m fortunate to have a good relationship with Dean Smith at Aston Villa. He’s aware of my coaching principles and what Brad will get out of coming here to us.
“Adam Henshall at Villa has also been really supportive of Brad coming to us, and he worked hard behind the scenes to make it happen.
“It’s also personally pleasing that what we’re trying to achieve is being recognised at that Premier League level. I want our football club to have that reputation and standing.
“Brad could be a real asset to the group this season, and I look forward to working with him.”
