Carlisle United confirm decisions on young loan players

Defender Kilsby will remain with Annan Athletic, winger Bell with Gretna 2008 and striker Fishburn with Morpeth Town.

The half-season loans of Kilsby and Bell were up this month but manager Paul Simpson is happy for the young duo to remain with their respective Scottish clubs.

The decision on Kilsby will come as a boost to Annan and their play-off push in Scottish League Two, with the 19-year-old having been a regular starter in defence.

Bell, 20, has also been getting regular game time for Gretna in the Lowland League.

Fishburn, meanwhile, is on a season-long loan in Northern Premier League Premier Division with Morpeth and Simpson is content for that to continue.

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“We’ve agreed with all three clubs that Lewis Bell, Sam Fishburn and Max Kilsby can all stay,” said Simpson.

“It’s been really good for all three of them – they’re all getting minutes and they’re all showing what they’re capable of doing in senior football.

“We think it’s the best place for them and we get the best of both worlds because they’re playing and training with their loan clubs, and here to train with us as well.”

Kilsby scored in his last Annan outing, a 4-0 win over Bonnyrigg Rose.

He is developing under the close eye of Carlisle legend Peter Murphy, the Annan manager.

For 19-year-old Fishburn, meanwhile, it is a second loan of the season after an earlier stint at Blyth Spartans was cut short.

Simpson, meanwhile, has not ruled out loaning out another home-grown player in goalkeeper Gabe Breeze.

Gabe Breeze (Image: Richard Parkes)

But he said the circumstances must be right for club as well as player.

“He is the only one we are considering letting go out, but with Scott Simons getting injured, that puts a bit of a blocker on that as well,” said the Carlisle boss.

“I can’t afford to leave myself in a position where, if one of our other two keepers gets injured, we’re left with just one in the building.

“It’s difficult. When you go out to a non-league level, after 28 days you can do a 24-hour recall, but not for those first 28 days.

“I’ve got to balance out what’s right for Gabe to go and get some match minutes, and what’s best for us as a club.

“We’ll make that decision over time. First of all we need a club to say they want to take him, and then we’ll make that decision. Hopefully something will come up but I don’t expect anything else to happen.”