Callum Guy may be used to battling in the grit of League Two every week, but the Carlisle United star isn’t taking a clash with Manchester United ’s under-21s lightly.
The two teams will meet at Brunton Park on Tuesday, as the Papa Johns EFL Trophy kicks off for another campaign. Guy, 25, made his professional debut in the competition five years ago, featuring for Derby County ’s under-21 side to kickstart his career. Now into his third full season with the Cumbrians after joining from Blackpool in January 2020, he’s gone on to establish himself as one of League Two’s most accomplished central midfielders.
But unlike in the 46 league games of a gruelling domestic campaign, Guy and his Carlisle teammates - who boosted their promising start to the season with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Gillingham on Saturday - won’t have to deal with the rigorous demands of fourth-tier football this time around. Instead, it’ll be a different kind of test, as the Red Devils’ highly-rated youngsters - some of whom played a part in United’s spectacular FA Youth Cup triumph back in May - make the trip up north, led by lead coach Mark Dempsey.
