Paul Simpson hopes Jack Diamond is growing in confidence the more he plays for Carlisle United.
The Sunderland loanee was bright in spells for the Blues in their 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers.
Diamond could not inspire Carlisle to a result that would end their dismal run of defeats.
But manager Simpson hopes United will see more from the 24-year-old the more he plays.
“[He showed] a bit of confidence, which he's going to get from playing games, and he's unfortunately not been able to do that [for a long time],” said Simpson.
“So he will get confidence. He will get better.”
Diamond’s outing at the Memorial Stadium was his fifth for the Cumbrians since his January loan move.
It is the creative player’s first run of games for nearly a year, Diamond having missed a long period of football as he fought a rape charge, being cleared following a trial in January.
Simpson deployed Diamond in a central attacking position behind striker Luke Armstrong at Bristol Rovers.
He was involved in a number of promising attacks for United but not enough came from his and the team’s ventures as Carlisle fell to an eighth straight defeat.
“Again, we've just got to get something at the end of it,” admitted Simpson, whose side return to action at Burton Albion tomorrow night.
“There was some good play in the first half and the second half. But we didn't keep the ball well enough when we got into the areas.
“So there were things [in the game] that we're happier with, but certainly things that we've got to improve on.”
Diamond played 87 minutes on Saturday having been nursed through the previous week in training as he tries to overcome a persistent ankle problem.
Simpson said that reducing his workload during the week had had the desired effect.
The Gateshead-born player will now hopefully be a key man for the Cumbrians as they bid to stop the rot at the Pirelli Stadium tomorrow.
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