TROY ARCHIBALD-HENVILLE

When the defender made a cameo appearance against Luton last week, the cheers from sections of the crowd were bracing. Although Archibald-Henville has been a bit-part player this season, his old, formidable performances are still remembered.

They are unlikely to mean he gets a further chance at Brunton Park, though. The former Swindon centre-half has made just three sub outings in 2016, and 13 appearances this season overall, with Keith Curle seemingly unwilling to rely on the man whose knee requires careful management by club and player.

Archibald-Henville was one of Graham Kavanagh's major signings two summers ago, and at times carried Carlisle's defence, yet it would be a major surprise if he was retained in two weeks' time.

DEREK ASAMOAH

The veteran striker has existed on short-term contracts since he arrived at Carlisle in 2014. Now the question is whether Curle feels Asamoah, 35 on May 1, can be part of a better United future.

Curle's faith in the man from Accra has endured over his career. Yet, despite clocking up more appearances than any other United player under his regime, starts have been harder to come by lately, his last coming on March 5.

Asamoah delivered some memorable moments earlier in the campaign, the highlight being his equaliser at Liverpool. Yet now it is time for the manager to decide whether to move on without one of his favourite footballing sons.

ANGELO BALANTA

If the retained list on May 9 includes the Colombian's name, many supporters will read it suspecting a hoax. No player has seemed further from favour over the last few months than Balanta, who is regularly omitted from Carlisle's matchday squad.

A hint at Curle's dissatisfaction with the former QPR man came in March, when Curle suggested the attacking midfielder needed to "work harder".

However the 25-year-old responded, it has not seen him achieve a first-team place. Despite extending his contract in December, Balanta has not made a single appearance since. The exit surely awaits.

DAN HANFORD

Having often been first-choice in 2014/15, Mark Gillespie's return to fitness has left Hanford as second-choice keeper this campaign and now his future is up for review.

The Welshman has been restricted to six appearances this term, and even if United do want to retain him as back-up, he may prefer to seek a first-team chance elsewhere.

Although Gillespie has made the position his own, Hanford has at times stepped in well, keeping clean sheets against Plymouth and Welling in the FA Cup, and also deputising strongly in the win at Morecambe.

From Curle's point of view, the question will be whether he feels he needs better competition for his No1, or even someone who can take Gillespie's place.

BASTIEN HERY

Another whose role has waned during Carlisle's run-in, Hery has not figured since March 5, when he was used in an unfamiliar right-sided role against champions Northampton.

The seven weeks since have seen the French midfielder battling to make it onto the bench - a far cry from earlier in the season when Hery was a regular pick.

Carlisle's manager has more recently tended to prefer the likes of Brandon Comley, Luke Joyce and Jason Kennedy in the engine room, with Alex Gilliead and Jack Stacey the creative options.

Hery joined last summer on a one-year deal with the option to extend, and it will probably depend in whose favour that option is when it comes to mapping out his future.

JABO IBEHRE

When the big striker was scoring goal after goal early in the campaign, there are many who would have proposed a five-year extension and the foundations for a statue of the 'Islington Assassin'.

Yet it has been very much a season of two halves for the Londoner. Of his 15 goals, 14 came before the turn of the year.

Ibehre, 33, has not been without distractions in recent months, particularly with his young daughter recovering from meningitis. More lately the striker was also hindered by an elbow problem.

During the run-in Ibehre has been in and out of the starting line-up and while his contract also includes the option to extend, much will depend on whether either party wish to prolong a Carlisle career that began gloriously but has since levelled out.

ALEX MCQUEEN

On the basis that it's not how you start but how you finish, few Carlisle players have staked a stronger claim recently than right-back McQueen.

Recalled after injuries to fellow defenders, the former Tottenham man performed impressively against Luton and Crawley. Two games may not make a season, but McQueen has seized his chance, showing useful pace and crossing, including an assist for Charlie Wyke.

McQueen has spent periods of the season behind David Atkinson and Tom Miller in the right-back pecking order but, having just turned 21, may be worth persisting with as Curle eyes improvements for 2016/17. Is another whose deal included an option to extend.

TOM MILLER

Contract talks had been mooted with Miller earlier in the campaign, before a hamstring injury interrupted the progress he had made since joining from Lincoln.

The versatile defender returned in the new year and then had a run in the side, before another hamstring problem arose. There will be those who feel Miller deserves the chance to build on his first campaign in Cumbria, in which he has scored five goals, while his ability to play both at right-back and centre-half could again be regarded as useful.

Blues icon Dean Walling feels the 25-year-old has the potential to go higher. All will depend now on how Curle lines up his defensive options as United move forward.

LOUIS PEDRO

Curle has protested that the signing of the Dutch winger was not a "mistake", but it may be hard to view it as anything but if Pedro is freed at the end of the season.

Undoubtedly the 25-year-old impressed in trial games, scoring a wonder goal against Burnley, and had done enough to be considered worthy of a gamble. Since then, Pedro has managed only one first-team appearance, a cameo in the 3-2 win against Bristol Rovers, not even making the bench since then.

The suggestion from United's boss, and other sources at Brunton Park, is that the former Feyenoord man has not set the training ground alight, and Curle's decision will depend on whether he regards Pedro as a "project" worthy of longer attention.

MICHAEL RAYNES

Is ending the season painfully, a head injury suffered at Cambridge keeping him out of the next two games, but otherwise Raynes has been a regular part of this United campaign, making 48 appearances and earning himself a place in the Capital One Cup team of the competition.

Undoubtedly the defender's vocal, organising presence has been an important feature, Raynes also taking the captain's armband whilst Danny Grainger was out injured mid-season.

Has been regarded as a dependable figure by Curle, but with Mark Ellis on the books until 2018, and David Atkinson under contract next term, Raynes' future may hinge on whether the boss wants to make further adjustments to his centre-half options.

STEVEN RIGG

Last season's local success story has found his second professional campaign a more frustrating one, with Rigg hindered by injury and also Curle's preference for Ibehre, Wyke and Asamoah in attack.

It has amounted to 11 appearances and no goals for the former Penrith man, who poached six in his debut season. And just when it seemed Rigg's 2015/16 was about to get the kick-start it needed, fate intervened, an ankle injury arriving minutes into his loan debut for Barrow.

A rare Blues start against Exeter followed in March, but to date that has been the last of his involvement. Curle is an admirer of Rigg's hard-working attitude - but after a campaign that has never really got started, we will soon learn how much.

ANTONY SWEENEY

Last month, as Sweeney was making his way back from injury, Blues coach Lee Dykes said: "Any League Two team would want someone like him in their side."

Now it comes down to whether Curle wants to extend the stay of a player who has worked hard to remain in his thoughts, despite spending the lion's share of his reign on the transfer list.

Before injury, Sweeney had become a regular member of Carlisle's matchday options, scoring important goals at Leyton Orient in the league, and Plymouth and Yeovil in the FA Cup. Vastly experienced at 32, is regarded as an excellent pro who some feel could remain an asset in 2016/17 - but, having been signed by Graham Kavanagh on a decent deal, the budget as much as Curle's wishes may dictate what happens next.

JOE THOMPSON

While Thompson's return from a cancer battle has been heartening, and to his immense credit, a regular first-team place has eluded him in his first season at Brunton Park. His sub outing at Crawley on Saturday was his first appearance since January 2.

You have to go further back, to November, for Thompson's last start. The winger found himself in and out of the side earlier in the campaign, as he battled for form, and though Curle extended his deal in January, Thompson's opportunities have mostly been limited to reserve friendlies.

Another squad player who has brought a bright personality and work ethic to the training ground, it would nonetheless be a surprise if this led to his time in Cumbria being prolonged.