League One newcomers Carlisle United have taken ex-Middlesbrough striker Ste Walker on trial, according to Dominic Shaw of The Northern Echo.
The 22-year-old was recently released by the Championship side and was formerly considered a first-team prospect, having made first-team appearances under former Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate, but now he hopes to win a contract with the Cumbrians ahead of the upcoming season.
Who is Ste Walker?
A Middlesbrough prospect from the academy and a local lad, Walker signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club in 2016 and shone on his debut, assisting Ashley Fletcher and scoring a penalty in an EFL Cup tie against Notts County, before signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal with the club in 2019.
Walker had two consecutive loan spells with both Milton Keynes Dons and Crewe Alexandra respectively, but it was his second spell at Stadium MK, where he hit the ground running, playing 17 times in all competitions and scoring five times.
He was sent out on loan again during the 2021-22 season to Tranmere Rovers, but only played three times, scoring once.
At the England youth level, Walker has played for the U-17s, U-18s and U-19s, where he scored a hat-trick against Macedonia and scored twice in a 3-1 qualifying win against Iceland U-19s. Walker was part of the U-19’s England team which included Arsenal’s Emile Smith-Rowe, Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi and Conor Gallagher and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
In Carlisle’s recent friendly against Annan Athletic, the striker netted in a 2-1 away victory getting his trial period off to an excellent start.
Writers’ View
Ste Walker definitely has some talent. To be part of England sides that have senior England internationals playing at the highest level shows that Walker has talent.
It may not have worked out for him during his loan spells or at his hometown club, but maybe a fresh start is all that’s needed for him to kick on and restart his career.
