Carlisle United consulted familiar face over new keeper signing

Paul Simpson has revealed that Carlisle United consulted former Blues No1 Tony Caig about new keeper Jude Smith.

Caig, the ex-United keeper and coach, is now head of academy goalkeeping at Newcastle United.

And Caig’s former club picked up the phone when the Cumbrians were looking to do a deal for Smith upon his Magpies exit this summer.

The 21-year-old will compete with Harry Lewis and Gabe Breeze at United and Simpson believes Smith will bolster the goalkeeping options.

“He's a goalkeeper who got into the [East Fife] first team up in Scotland as a teenager and was talked about,” said Carlisle’s manager.

“A lot of clubs were going to take him. I wasn't at a football club at the time to be thinking about taking him, but I was aware of what was going on.

“Newcastle took him and he's had a couple of years there working with Tony Caig.

Smith will compete with fellow keepers Harry Lewis, left, and Gabe Breeze, right (Image: Carlisle United)

“When we found out he was getting released, we had a chat with Caigy about him.

“He's still only young as a goalkeeper, so there's lots of development to come from him. I just think with having Harry, Jude and Gabe in the building, we've got three keepers who can be competitive and make it a strong area.”

Simpson, who recently drafted in new goalkeeping coach Glen Johnson, wants Carlisle to emulate some of their past successes at developing young keepers.

“Carlisle United, as a football club, has got a little bit of a history of having young goalkeepers and going on,” said the Blues boss at Wednesday morning's fixtures breakfast event at Brunton Park.

“With James Trafford and Dean Henderson, they were very young when they left us, but we took Keiren Westwood in when he was released by Man City and he went on to show that he was a good signing.

“So I'm hoping with the three keepers that they also come through.”