Manager Chris Beech confirmed at his press conference on Thursday that the door is till wide open for Preston loanee Ethan Walker to make a return as he continues to push on with his rehab from a shoulder injury picked up during the Sunderland Papa John’s Trophy game in October.
“Ethan’s a Preston lad, he can access Carlisle with a good hour down the M6, that’s good for us,” he said. “He’s a good player, a young player, I’ve stayed in contact him with texts and things through his rehab.
“I know he’s training already with Preston. I know he’s got to see the specialist to get the ok for the shoulder, and from that point that could be an option for us.
“David [Holdsworth] will have to pick the reins up with Peter Ridsdale at Preston and see where that is. Anybody who wants to play for Carlisle and give 100 per cent and work very hard, I have an interest in. Ethan wants to do that.”
And another boost is the continued pathway to a return for attacking midfielder Brennan Dickenson, who is gearing up towards a first appearance for the Blues.
“In his rehab Brennan went to St George’s, then went home after, this was a couple of months ago, and he’s had the virus, so that put him back a couple of weeks,” he said. “But he trained really well the other day and it’s great he’ll be training today [Thursday]. I’m really pleased for him.
“What we have to do is build it up a little bit, respect the fact he’s not done it since Sunderland in pre-season, which seems about five years ago, so we have to try and build up that time in him.
“Brennan’s a strong boy, a really professionally-minded person, and he’ll add to us once he gets going on that pitch for us.”
