Inside track on Carlisle United who have ex-Sunderland youth in their ranks

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For the visiting side may feature on-loan midfielder Connor Malley, who left the Black Cats at 16, and has already returned to haunt them once.

Having joined Middlesbrough following his departure from Wearside, midfielder Malley has come close to first-team football at the Riverside, and arrived at Carlisle on loan late last week.

And the 20-year-old is expected to make his debut for the Cumbrians tonight (KO 7pm at the Stadium of Light), having orchestrated a Premier League 2 victory for Boro U23s over their Sunderland counterparts just over a year ago.

But while the Black Cat go into tonight’s game top of the Trophy’s Northern Group A after an 8-1 rout over Aston Villa U21s, Carlisle lie third after a 3-1 defeat against Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town.

And Sunderland are also defending an 11-game unbeaten record against Carlisle stretching back to 1975.

For the inside track on the task which faces Sunderland tonight, we spoke to Carlisle News & Stars reporter Jon Colman, who reports on the Cumbrians, home and away.

Q From a tactical perspective, what is Carlisle’s approach likely to be?

It will depend on who plays and potentially on who starts. Manager Chris Beech is happy to get the ball up the pitch a little more quickly than his predecessor, Steven Pressley, and the side tends to be able to deal well with the physical and technical elements of the game.

Q What is the biggest weakness Sunderland could look to exploit?

It’s tricky to predict given the potential changes. They were a bit error-prone in their opening few games but, in fairness, they’ve kept a couple of clean sheets in their last couple so there are signs of improvement there.

Q Who is Carlisle’s biggest danger man?

Beech has quite openly said he’ll make quite a few changes from the weekend, so it is tricky to pick out anyone in particular for this evening.

But Connor Malley may feature. He’s arrived on loan from Middlesbrough and was formerly on Sunderland’s books at academy level.

Goalkeeper Magnus Norman could also come in, as could forward Gavin Reilly.

Young defenders Max Hunt and Jack Armer are two others who could get a chance, as well as 19-year-old midfielder Taylor Charters.

Q Predicted scoreline?

I’ll go for a goal-fest. 3-3 and Carlisle to win on penalties.

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