Carlisle United boss Keith Millen is delighted to have signed Southampton defender Dynel Simeu.

Simeu has joined Carlisle on-loan to June.

Dynel is someone I saw at the very beginning of my time here," Millen told the club website. “He was number one on our list and I've worked really hard to get him here."

"I've driven down to Southampton twice to watch him play, and I met him again on Sunday.

“I've done a lot of hours on this deal, and I have to say Southampton have been good and have kept us updated all the way through.

"There was a hold up because he was in and around the first-team when they had Covid and injuries, so like a lot of Premier League clubs they've been holding players back.

"That delayed it for a couple of weeks, but they're in a better position now and they want him to come and play football."

He continued: “It's a long way from Southampton to Carlisle, but it just shows you the attitude of the player that he's willing to do that to learn and get better.

"He's been training and he's ready to go. I think he was on the bench for the first-team in the FA Cup, and part of me was hoping he would be involved, but if he was we probably wouldn't have been able to sign him."

“Southampton have been great to deal with because they've been very honest from day one, it was just a case of waiting for the timing to be right, and I've kept on and on at them.

"It's pleasing when you get your number one target in because there's so much hard work that goes into it. Like I say, I've done a lot of travelling, and I think that's shown him how much we want him here.

"It isn't just a phone call, I think it's important to meet players. When we did meet we got on really well, and hopefully that persuaded him to come up here. I think he's a really positive signing for us."