Carlisle United look set for disappointment in their bid to keep Jack Sowerby for the season.

But the Blues remain more hopeful on Jerry Yates – and will wait until deadline day for the striker if needed.

United’s new manager Steven Pressley has conceded that Sowerby will not be making a return from Fleetwood once his loan runs out after Saturday’s game at Port Vale.

Carlisle have been hoping to persuade the League One club to sanction a second half-season deal for the 23-year-old, who has impressed for the fourth-placed Cumbrians.

Pressley, though, said: “The situation with Jack Sowerby is that, at this moment in time, he will be returning to Fleetwood after the game on Saturday, which is a real disappointment for us because he’s been a brilliant signing and he was excellent again at the weekend.

“I spoke with [chairman] Andy Pilley at Fleetwood, and the feeling was that, at this moment in time, they’ve been delighted with his loan - it’s been a real benefit to the player and to them, and they feel he might be ready to go back there and play on a regular basis.

“Unfortunately that’s one of the things with loan players - you sometimes do the work for other teams to benefit from it.

“We’ve got no gripes. Jack’s been a terrific player - we’d just love to have had him here that little bit longer, but we respect Fleetwood’s situation.”

Sowerby’s impending departure comes as Pressley continues efforts to bring in a new midfielder in time for the Vale Park trip.

He also wants to bolster United’s attack and a return for Rotherham’s Yates remains a top priority – and, says the manager, still a “genuine possibility”.

Asked how long the club were prepared to wait for Yates, Pressley said: “Probably deadline day!

“He’s a key figure. We only have one more game between now and deadline day, and we want him here, there’s no doubt about it.

“To get him here, we’re prepared to wait until deadline day. On deadline day we’ll have to have a couple of options, a couple of possibilities. But he is certainly a priority.”

A return for Ashley Nadesan this month look less likely, Pressley saying the striker looks set to play a key part in Fleetwood’s games between now and the end of the season.

United’s boss is also considering his defensive options and was last night awaiting progress in his attempt to bring Canada defender David Edgar to Brunton Park to train.

The Scot, meanwhile, has opened the door for Mike Jones, George Glendon and Gary Miller to impress even though the club recently said they could leave in order to gain first-team football.

Miller started against Cheltenham in the absence of injured Gary Liddle while Jones and Glendon came off the bench in Pressley’s first game in charge.

The new boss said: “My take is that they’re under no pressure to go at all. I’ve come in here with absolutely no preconceived ideas on any player. I’ve told the players that.

“If they come to me and say they want to move, that’s different, then we can have a discussion. At this moment in time they’re serious members of this squad, and if the opportunity arises and they play, they have to grasp the opportunity and the jersey becomes theirs. That’ll not change.”

Pressley also again played down any prospect of star midfielder Jamie Devitt leaving before the window closes next Thursday.

“Not if we’re serious about promotion, we can’t [let him leave] - that’s the bottom line,” he said.

“I don’t believe the club are under any pressure to sell any player. Yes, we understand Dev’s [contract is] up at the end of the season but for us, probably the money you would receive now on him I think wouldn’t outweigh the importance of him in the remaining 17 games.

“I see no concern on my part for Dev going. He’s a key figure and I think he’ll be here.”

United have suggested they will seek to open contract talks with the Irish schemer once the January window is out of the way.

Pressley added: “I think he’s like all the players - a new manager’s come in, and us managers all have different opinions on things. I’m still assessing the group.

“I was very much aware, before I came here, of his qualities and he’s certainly enhanced his own reputation with me at the weekend, but I have to keep seeing these things from these players, because I want a good team here if I’m here beyond the summer.

“He’s my type of player, but I want consistent players, so the players have a real opportunity in the remaining 17 games, not just to make themselves legendary figures with the football club by gaining what we all want – promotion – but by earning themselves the contracts.

“I think that’s a great motivation for us all.”