Carlisle United head coach Mike Williamson says he will consider fresh loan moves for Anton Dudik and Sam Hetherington in the new year.

The Blues boss has not ruled out sending the teenage duo back out on loan after the busy festive period.

Williamson recalled Dudik and Hetherington from respective spells with South Shields and Workington Reds before Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Port Vale.

It followed illness and injuries in the United camp.

Hetherington was on the bench at Vale Park while Dudik travelled with the squad despite being left out of the 18-man squad.

Williamson says they will remain with the first-team in the short term but he will look again at the situation after the current busy run of games.

“The busy Christmas period is important,” said the Blues boss.

“Given the illnesses that are going through the squad, we need to keep them with us, but if they're not getting the game time, then [a fresh loan spell for them is] something we'll look at in the new year.”

Striker Dudik was amid a second month’s loan in the National League North with South Shields, that spell having been set to last until the turn of the year.

Since October, attacking midfielder Hetherington had been with Workington in a loan deal which was also due to run until December 31.

Other Blues players who remain out on loan are Jake Allan and Aran Fitzpatrick, who are with Workington Reds, Dan Hopper who has just linked up with Penrith, and Josh O’Brien with Carlisle City, though the latter has been out with injury for a number of weeks.

Hetherington and Dudik were recalled with United missing three players to illness and others to injury for the Port Vale trip.

Williamson will hope to have some of those players back for the big Boxing Day home clash with Morecambe.

United's efforts in the January transfer window are also likely to influence any decisions on loan moves for current players in the squad.