Carlisle United have suffered a blow at the start of 2019 after Rotherham recalled loan star Jerry Yates.

The Championship club have brought the 22-year-old back into their squad which has been hit by injury, suspension and the recall of their own loan players.

It deals a blow to United's hopes of securing an immediate second half-season loan for the in-form frontman.

The Blues, though, are not giving up on the possibility of Yates returning at some stage this month.

Yates hit superb form in December, scoring five goals in his last four games, taking his total to seven this season overall.

United, who face Morecambe at the Globe Arena this afternoon, had previously been confident of securing an extension to Yates' loan.

Director of football David Holdsworth said: "Rotherham have suffered from injuries, suspensions and loan recalls of their own recently.

"They notified us yesterday that they needed their player back for them to use as they see fit.

"This is the type of thing that can happen, even though it is always disappointing.

"We all know Jerry has been fantastic for us and we hope to have the option to bring him back here once the situation at Rotherham eases off a little bit.

"If that isn't the case, we would like to thank Jerry for the hard work and effort he has put in with us, and would like to thank everyone at Rotherham for the way they have worked with us through his time at Brunton Park."

Rotherham this week lost loan man Ryan Manning back to QPR, while they are without Richie Towell and Billy Jones today after their red cards against Bristol City on Saturday.

United also claimed that an example of their good working relationship with the Millers was the way they co-ordinated today's announcement of the news.

Holdsworth added: "They [Rotherham] made the request on behalf of their manager [Paul Warne] to hold back on the news until the teamsheets were exchanged today, and having taken that request on board, and having listened to their reasons for it, we were happy to agree.

"As I say, we still hope we will see Jerry again and we will always work closely with his parent club with that in mind."

United's strikeforce will come under further scrutiny with the Blues already expecting to lose Ashley Nadesan back to Fleetwood after next weekend's game against Mansfield, and having said yesterday they will consider approaches for Richie Bennett.

Manager John Sheridan last weekend said he was planning to make an offer to a target.