John Sheridan will bid to lead his Carlisle United side to a fourth straight win for the first time today amid speculation linking him with former club Chesterfield.

It appears to be business as usual for the Blues boss for the home clash with Macclesfield despite bookies yesterday slashing his odds for the Spireites job to 4/7.

Sources told the News & Star there was no sign of any approach from the National League strugglers after reports that Sheridan’s name was the talk of the Proact Stadium on Boxing Day.

The focus remains on the job in hand with the Cumbrians aiming to strengthen their play-off push in 2018’s final game.

Sheridan and United completed one piece of business yesterday as second-choice keeper Louis Gray signed a deal until the end of the season.

Talks are continuing over loanees Jerry Yates and Jack Sowerby, and defender Anthony Gerrard who has been offered improved terms.

Sheridan’s future has been the subject of debate since his post-match press conference on Boxing Day when he said he could quit if too many people did not like his “demanding” style.

That followed verbal clashes with players including skipper Danny Grainger during the 6-0 win against Oldham.

United will be hoping events on the pitch return to the top of the agenda this afternoon when they face Sol Campbell’s Silkmen.

The Cumbrians have scored 13 goals in their last three games - including 10 in two home games.

Sheridan said: “We’re scoring 4-0, 6-0, and hopefully it will attract people back.

“That’s what we want. We want more fans. It’s good for the supporters. They haven’t seen us win too many games but when we have, we’ve been emphatic.

“We’ve got a tough game now. Macclesfield are doing really well under Sol Campbell. But we’re at home and I expect us to win.

“Macclesfield are probably the team who have outplayed us more than any team this season [in October’s 2-1 defeat at Moss Rose]. It was a lot down to how we played. But he [Campbell] has gone in and done a very good job.

“He was a very good player, knows the game, he’s got an excellent start in management so I expect a very tough game."

One of Sheridan's predecessors will be United's guest of honour today.

Greg Abbott, who managed the Blues from 2008-13, will be welcomed into the boardroom.

Abbott recently left Bradford after a spell as assistant coach and was yesterday appointed head of football operations at Mansfield.

The 55-year-old, who managed United to Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory in 2011, has also recently fought prostate cancer.