Steven Pressley says Carlisle United will make a decision after tomorrow night’s game on the future of potential loan midfielder Lewis Brunt.

The Aston Villa midfielder has been training with the Blues for just over a week and has featured in friendlies against Penrith, Chester and Fleetwood.

The 18-year-old came on with 15 minutes to go in Saturday’s defeat to the Cod Army along with a host of Carlisle’s home-grown teenagers.

He initially joined for a fortnight-long training period which was designed to give both parties time to assess whether a season-long loan would follow.

Brunt is set to feature against Tranmere tomorrow at Brunton Park.

Pressley said: “We’ll speak with Aston Villa after the game [tomorrow] and we’ll make a decision on that one.

“Probably [last] Thursday was his best training day thus far, and that was pleasing, but we’ll make an assessment on him and decide whether we keep him or whether his development is better at Aston Villa for the next period.”

Trialists Aaron Hayden and Kwame Thomas could also again be involved against Tranmere.

Thomas played the first 45 minutes against Fleetwood before being replaced up front by defender Hayden.

The latter man, the ex-Wolves centre-half, is being considered by Pressley at a time he wants to sign a defender who can cover the middle and right of his back four.

He said: “That’s why we’ve brought him in, to look at him in both positions.

“He’s a really good character, he’s gelled into the group very well, and he’s a vocal lad which I like.

"We’ll certainly be looking at him over the coming weeks.”