CHARLIE McArthur has said he is 'looking forward' to playing for Carlisle United after joining the Blues on loan from Newcastle United until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old defender became Carlisle United's eighth signing of the January transfer window as the club looks to claw itself off the bottom of the EFL League table.

After starting his career at Kilmarnock, McArthur was recruited by the Magpies in 2022 where he has featured for the Tyneside club in the Vertu Trophy and UEFA Youth League.

The teenage defender was also a fixture in Newcastle United's youth side's Premier League 2 campaign prior to securing the move to Brunton Park.

Speaking to Carlisle United's CUTV, the young central defender discussed his reasons for joining the Blues and how it was informed by conversations with head coach Mike Williamson.

He said: "It was coming up to the January transfer window and I was looking to go out on loan and Carlisle came up and I thought it would be the best option after speaking to the gaffer and speaking to the club.

"I am looking forward to kicking on here.

"They have been absolutely brilliant every single one of them, I spoke to the gaffer and he was talking about the way he wants to play and you can see his intentions are clear by the way he wants to play and he wants to stick by that.

"Coming here, knowing the gaffer as being a top-class centre-half, that will help me and my development so again that's why it was a really good chance to come here for the next stage of my career."