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Gilliead Keen To Keep On Impressing
Written by Newcastle Utd
Loan star Alex Gilliead is hoping to carry his impressive start to life at Carlisle United into the new year
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Alex Gilliead is hoping to build on his impressive start to life at Carlisle United in 2016.
The 19-year-old from Consett is on loan with the Cumbrians for the rest of the season, along with his Newcastle United team-mate Macaulay Gillesphey.
He made his 16th appearance of the season in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Plymouth - a game which was played at Blackburn's Ewood Park due to the floods which have affected their Brunton Park home ground.
Despite that result, Keith Curle's side are just outside the play-off places and England under-20 international Gilliead is thoroughly enjoying himself.
"I've got three goals and a handful of assists so I think it's going well at the minute," Gilliead told nufc.co.uk.
"It's just good to be out in the footballing world, getting some experience and playing 90 minutes every week.
"It's different (to under-21 football). Three points matter to people, to the fans, and in the changing room before games everyone really wants to win.
"I'm not saying that at under-21 level everyone doesn't want to win, but at that level you're trying to develop and to learn the game.
"But when you go out on loan - especially to a League Two team - everyone is fighting for their lives."
Gilliead set up two goals on his Carlisle debut against York in September, quickly impressing players and supporters alike with his pace and trickery.
And the wideman, who came on as a substitute for the Magpies in a friendly against Sheffield Wednesday in July 2014 but has yet to make his competitive Newcastle bow, has never looked back.
"Since I've been there, everyone's been really good with me and Macaulay," he said.
"We've got a few older players who have played at some decent levels - the Championship, the Scottish Premier League - in their careers, and they've got a lot of experience.
"And they kind of take you under their wing and give you a bit of information, a bit of their experience.
"They want you to do well; they want you to push on in your career, so they've all been good to us."