Paul Simpson says the signs are looking positive on Jack Stretton remaining at Carlisle United.

The Blues do not yet have a “definitive” steer from Derby County on whether Stretton can see out his season-long loan at Brunton Park.

But Simpson says he has been told that the Rams will only recall Stretton next month if they are hit by a sudden string of injuries in attack.

It means the likelihood is the 21-year-old will remain for the second half of the campaign with the Blues in League Two.

“They [Derby] can’t give us a definitive answer, but what they’re saying at the moment is they don’t expect to be recalling him, unless they have a massive injury crisis,” said Simpson of Stretton.

“I think we’ll only know when it comes to that window in January. The signs are that we’re able to keep him, and we’ve just got to wait and see.

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“We’re sort of holding our breath a little bit with all the loans just to see what they decide to do, but a bit closer to the time we should get a clearer picture.”

Simpson says he is keen for United’s other loan players to stay for the duration of their season-long spells.

Neither Sonny Hilton nor Ben Barclay have so far had the game time they had hoped for when joining the Blues in the summer.

But Simpson hopes the duo are happy to remain at Brunton Park and target a second half of the season that is less hindered by injuries.

“The thing for them is they have to be happy as well,” United’s boss said.

“Ben and Sonny have both had injury troubles. Sonny had probably his best time on the pitch at Newport [in September], then he was out for a long time after that. He’s not had another opportunity since then.

“I would imagine there’ll be a bit of a frustration for him that he’s not had many minutes.

“The same can go for Ben; his [circumstances] have just been a long injury spell on the sidelines.

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“I’m hoping they’re happy to say. But, similar to Duncan Idehen, if they’re not happy about not getting minutes, they might say they want to go back, and that’s something we’ve just got to deal with.

“In an ideal world I’d like them to stay but I only want them to stay if they’re happy to be here.”

United are having discussions over the next step for Nottingham Forest loanee Fin Back, who is out for several months after a hamstring operation.

Simpson, meanwhile, says decisions are close on the immediate loan future of young pros Max Kilsby and Lewis Bell.

They see their loans at Annan Athletic and Gretna 2008 up in January.

United’s boss said: “We’re speaking with Annan and Gretna at the moment about that.

“If everybody’s in agreement the chances are they will stay out, to keep getting match minutes and performing at senior level.

“Then we monitor them all the time anyway, just to see how they’re doing.

“They train with us virtually every day so we’re seeing how they’re developing. If the situation’s right for them to stay out that’s what they’ll do.”