KALLUM HIGGINBOTHAM has joined Carlisle United on loan.

The 23-year-old – part of Simon Grayson’s promotion-winning line-up at Wembley only four months ago – has joined the Brunton Park club on a 93-day emergency loan. His spell in League I is up to and including December 22 and the midfielder will be looking forward to some first-team action after not getting a look-in at the John Smith’s Stadium this season.

The former Falkirk and Rochdale player, who was loaned out to Barnsley last season before returning to help Town go up, didn’t even get a run-out in the Capital One Cup at Preston when Grayson’s international contingent were away.

Higginbotham featured in all three play-off matches last season, going on as a sub and impressing against MK Dons in the semi-final first leg and keeping his place for the second leg and final, when he’d been taken off and didn’t feature in the penalty shoot-out.

Grayson is still looking to make a striker signing following the departure of Jordan Rhodes and last week allowed midfielder Chris Atkinson to join Chesterfield on a youth loan.