By Jon Colman

Last updated at 09:22, Friday, 27 November 2009

Striker Vincent Pericard has given the strongest hint yet he is ready to extend his stay at Carlisle United.

Vincent Pericard celebrates his goal

The big Frenchman, who has now scored four for the Cumbrians, said the time is approaching when he will discuss his future with United boss Greg Abbott.

Pericard’s efforts since joining the Blues, including a crucial brace in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory at MK Dons, are unlikely to have gone unnoticed elsewhere.

But the former Portsmouth and Stoke striker, who has made no secret of his desire to get back into the Championship or higher, insists he is in no rush to leave Brunton Park.

“I am absolutely loving my time here,” said Pericard, whose short-term deal with the Blues runs out on January 12.

“I am getting on with the lads, the way we play suits me, and I need to sit down with the manager and see what we can do.

“There are no worries. It is not a place I just want to get away from. I am happy.”

Pericard, who started his career at Juventus, stunned the Dons with two headers in the space of four minutes in Carlisle’s dramatic victory on Tuesday.

The striker, who will lead the line against Norwich in Saturday’s FA Cup second round clash with Norwich, said he was delighted to be back on the scoresheet after four games without finding the net.

But he admitted he should have capped his night with a memorable hat-trick in injury-time, when he was put clean through by matchwinner Joe Anyinsah only to hit the crossbar.

“I think I was just too eager to score my third - I was already celebrating,” he said.

“I just had to forget about it and get on with things, but I am happy to be getting chances. More goals will come if I keep going at it.

“We always believed we could win the game and the way we played and stuck together proved a lot of people wrong, and that’s very good.

“We know that keeping clean sheets is something we have got to work at, but we scored more than the other team and to beat such a difficult opponent is very good for the team.”

Pericard will make his 10th United appearance against the Canaries on Saturday and could again be asked to operate as a lone centre-forward.

“I know exactly what I need to do in that system and there is no confusion,” said the Cameroon-born ace. “It works well, I can give the ball to Kav [Graham Kavanagh] and the team can manage to work around me.”

Abbott will today check on loan midfielder Adam Clayton, who had to be substituted with a knee injury on Tuesday night.

First published at 11:21, Thursday, 26 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk