Blackpool say they are hopeful Jamie Devitt will find a new club before next Friday's transfer deadline.

The former Carlisle United midfielder has been out of favour at Bloomfield Road.

Devitt has been persistently linked with a return to Brunton Park in recent months but no deal has materialised.

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley, though, told The Gazette that he hopes Devitt can make a move that will get him the first-team football he wants.

Critchley said: “He’s had a bad time with injury in the past 12 to 18 months, so he’s doing his best to sort that situation out for himself.

"I for one hope he can because he’s desperate to go and play football again and we’re hopeful that can happen in the next week or so for him.”

Critchley said 30-year-old Devitt has featured in behind-closed-doors games in recent weeks, and praised the Irish player's professionalism despite being out of favour.

“He’s been brilliant to work with," he said. "He’s a really good professional, he understands the situation and he wants to go and play games, he wants to go and play football and he wants to get his career going again."

Devitt has not made an appearance for Blackpool despite joining them from Carlisle last year. He went on loan to Bradford last season before a hamstring injury curtailed his campaign.