Chris Beech has not ruled out Joshua Kayode returning to availability for Carlisle United this week.

The striker, out for more than a month with an ankle injury, is getting closer to being back in action.

Beech would not be drawn on whether the Rotherham loanee could figure in the squad at Newport tomorrow.

That prospect may be less likely given Kayode did not play in an in-house practice game last Thursday.

Beech said: “He was running round the pitch. I kept looking at him, [thinking], ‘Come on, give us five minutes.

“He’s getting nearly there but not quite enough for [Saturday against Barrow]. Maybe he will be for Newport.”

One welcome boost for Beech and United is the return to action of midfielder Danny Devine.

He came off the bench for the closing seconds of Saturday’s draw for his first appearance since December.

It saw Devine return from a knee injury as he was included in the matchday 18 at the expense of Cedwyn Scott.

“It was tough for me – you’ve got Cedwyn who’s not done anything too wrong,” Beech said.

“We had a practice game on Thursday for 60 minutes for lads who haven’t been starting regularly.

“I looked at Danny, he played full-back in that, and it’s great to see him back.”

Devine’s late appearance at Barrow came as Jack Armer had to go off after a head injury.

Beech said: “That rule – Jack’s not bleeding but has been told to come off the pitch, they [Barrow] had got 20 seconds [left] and had got big Calvin Andrew on, and Scott Quigley, and all they’re gonna do is pump it in your box, and they’re telling me my defender who I want to mark somebody has to come off the pitch.

“I had to make the change but [the referee] blew the whistle straight away. But it’s great to see Danny back.”