Preston have formally recalled Carlisle United's Ethan Walker from his season-long loan deal.

The teenage attacker has been recovering from injury since October.

United have spoken about the possibility of the 18-year-old returning to Brunton Park this month.

But for the time being he will remain at Deepdale, with Preston's activation of a January recall clause giving Walker the prospect of pushing his way into Alex Neil's squad.

Walker has been training with the Championship club after returning from the shoulder injury he suffered against Sunderland in an EFL Trophy game for Carlisle, and could be an option for Preston in their FA Cup Third Round trip to Wycombe tomorrow.

The young prospect had been brought in by the Blues to cover the pre-season injury of Brennan Dickenson.

Dickenson is now fit, while Carlisle today added to their attacking options with the signing of Offrande Zanzala.

On the Walker news, United boss Chris Beech said: “Ethan’s a Preston lad and he was able to access Carlisle easily, which was good for him and us.

“Everyone knows what we think of him. He’s a good, young player, which is why we brought him to the club.

“With the fact that he’s trained with Preston, and with them needing players for their own reasons, this was always going to be a possibility. It can happen within any loan, should the parent club make that decision.

"Preston have been fantastic with us and it goes without saying that we wish him all the best.”

United director of footbal David Holdsworth told the News & Star last week that the Blues would "potentially look to bring [Walker] back" this month.

Beech also left the door open for such an opportunity.

Walker used Twitter to thank United for his time in Cumbria.