John Sheridan has admitted defeat in his attempts to extend loan striker Ashley Nadesan’s Carlisle United stay.

The Blues boss believes the 24-year-old is happy at Brunton Park but expects him to go back to parent club Fleetwood, where head coach Joey Barton has indicated he will be returning to fight for a place in January when his current loan deal expires, although Sheridan thinks the Fishermen may cash in on him.

"I always thought that would be the case that they’d want him [back]. Whether they’re trying to move him on, I know they are trying to sell Nadders," said Sheridan.

"Nadders is happy and wants to stay here, but, obviously, Fleetwood is his club and I respect that. So, we will prepare.

"It’s in our heads that he is probably moving on, so we need to replace him, and that’s what we are trying to do.

"We are looking at options and [we will] be ready for when we have to do it."

Asked if he had asked the United board whether he would have money available to bid for Nadesan, who has scored seven goals so far this term ahead of the Cumbrians’ trip to League Two leaders MK Dons tomorrow, Sheridan said: "No, I didn’t think so.

"I haven’t really asked the question. I don’t think we are in a position to do that.

"Nadders is going to move on and we have to be looking at a similar loan deal to what we have already done with him. So, that’s what we will be looking at."

Nadesan is one of four loan men whose deals are up this winter, with the futures of Jack Sowerby, Jerry Yates and Adam Campbell also to be decided.

Sheridan believes the trio are happy at Carlisle and says he has had brief discussions with “one or two” of those players’ parent clubs.

"I think they all want to stay and they are all happy," he said. 

"Listen, any loan player wants to be playing. Other than young Adam Campbell, who hasn’t figured a lot, they have all been playing.

"When you go out on loan, you want to be playing, you don’t want to be sat on the bench.

"You are going out on loan for the purpose of playing games. 

"I have had a word with most of them, they are all very happy, but we need to work out what is best for both parties and what’s best for the player. We’ve spoken, briefly, to one or two [parent clubs]. I think they will be happy.

"If the player is happy and playing, that’s a big plus for us.

"But, again, it’s still 3-4 weeks to go until the loans end.”