Young midfielder backed to take next step after Blues pro deal

Teenager Jonah Lowes has been backed to make the step up to the professional ranks with Carlisle United – because of the “edge” to his game.

The 18-year-old midfielder will join United’s pro squad next season after being handed a two-year deal.

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It caps Lowes’ rise through the Blues’ academy as well as an impressive loan spell at Darlington in National League North in the closing months of 2025/26.

The challenge for the young United prospect is to continue catching the eye in training when he returns as a professional – and push his way up the queue for first-team consideration.

Head coach Mark Hughes, speaking to the News & Star about Lowes’ pro deal last week, said the south Cumbrian player had shown clear signs of progress.

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“Whenever you send out young players out on loan it's a big step for them, because in youth football, academy football, you're going up against more often than not same age opponents,” he said.

“Whereas once you go on loan you're up against men – senior guys who've been around the block and know all the tricks of the trade.

“You've got to learn very, very quickly and Jonah, ever since he's been out on loan, we've had good reports about him.

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“We stipulate whenever we send players out on loan that we want that option to be able to bring them back and integrate them back into training, and make sure they’re ok and progressing.

“Every time he [Lowes] came back he impressed us with his undoubted ability – he’s a clever player – but he’s got a bit of an edge about him as well, which I think lends itself to senior football.”

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Lowes made his first-team United debut in an EFL Trophy game at Morecambe in the 2024/25 season, while his prominent role in Mark Birch’s under-18s side this season saw him make his case for a pro deal, along with his loan stint.

On the challenge ahead for Lowes when Carlisle return for pre-season this summer, Hughes added: “As with all young players, they have to just keep progressing and making themselves the guy in the training session that you talk about.

“When you’re a young player you need to make an impression. That doesn’t mean you fly around and start kicking senior players – that won’t get you anywhere with the manager – but after a training session if you’ve trained well and trained correctly, then staff will start talking about you.

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“And then you’ve got to wait for those sliding-door moments where somebody gets injured, and the manager thinks, ‘Well, do I move a senior player around, move him out of position, square peg round hole, or do I give the young lad a chance because he’s been great in training?’

“You’ve got to be ready for when the door opens.”

Lowes will be the latest home-grown player to join the professional ranks, following the likes of first-team players Jack Ellis and Gabe Breeze into the senior set-up. Hayden Atkinson is another young Cumbrian pro felt to have a bright future.

“They are a good marker for everybody in the academy,” Hughes added.

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“They’re doing great work in the academy, it has to be said – the quality of the players I’m able to bring up to training sessions to help out or travel to away games, they’re good players but good people too, and that’s a good part of their education as well.”

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