United midfielder Ben Mckenna has joined Scottish League division three promotion chasers Annan Athletic on a half-season loan deal this afternoon - subject to completion of all necessary paperwork.

Mckenna, 19 next week, signed his first professional deal with Carlisle last summer after performing well in the club's U18 side.

He made his first team debut in th FA Cup win over Tipton Town in November 2010 and was further rewarded later that season with his league debut against Sheffield Wednesday.

An injury picked up during pre-season hampered his progress through the first half of the current campaign but he has been on the bench for the Cumbrians on four occasions so far.

Manager Greg Abbott said: "Ben needs competitive football and he will get that with this move.

"With where we are at the moment and with the bad luck he has had with injuries he is finding it difficult to get into our starting eleven. We're all very aware that he only has six months left on his contract so we spoke to Annan to see if they had anything for him.

"We know them well and they'll look after him, which is important. Their location means that we can get up there and watch him, and we can still have him in training with us every Monday.

"It can only be good for Ben because he needs games. They are going really well in their division and this is a chance for him to show people that he is ready to go again.

"The way this industry works is that you are forming opinions on people all the time. What we're saying to Ben is that we want him to go up there and play the game the way we know he can. If he does that then it makes our decision on keeping him at the end of the season an easier one to make. It's a move which will put him right into the line of sight, and it gives him a real chance to state his case.

"He's a hard working lad so I'm sure he'll take this chance to the best of his ability."