Cruise making all the right moves

Cruise: One week left with Carlisle

Carlisle boss Gregg Abbott has been impressed by Tom Cruise and will monitor the last week of the Arsenal man's loan before making a decision on his future.

The teenage defender first joined the League One club at the beginning of November and he has played in seven games for Carlisle in all competitions.

Cruise is not due to return to Premier League Arsenal until 8th January and Abbott will therefore take his time before possibly deciding to extend the deal.

Abbott told his club's official website: "Tom has done well since he joined us and he has got better and better as the weeks have gone on.

"Coming from the type of club he has been at, with the way they play football, it has been different for him.

"There is obviously a difference in the levels and he found that it took him a little bit of time to come to terms with League One football.

Close look

"We'll continue to have a really close look at him until his loan spell is up on 8 January and then we can come to a decision with him.

"There is nothing set in stone one way or the other at the moment so he is in a position where he can continue to show us what he can do, and we can take it from there."

Carlisle also announced on Tuesday that striker Richard Offiong has been released with immediate effect.

Abbott said: "I think both myself and Richard are disappointed with the way that things have gone.

"It didn't go the way that we wanted it to, so we sat down today and had a good chat and he is now able to move on with our very best wishes."

Managing director John Nixon believes Offiong could be quitting football, as he said: "We understand from his agent that Richard may be leaving the sport to pursue another career path and we genuinely wish him all the very best with whichever route he decides to take."