Carlisle United have recalled two teenage players from loan spells ahead of their festive fixtures.

Sam Hetherington and Anton Dudik have returned to the first-team ranks at Brunton Park.

Attacking midfielder Hetherington, 18, had been on loan at Workington Reds, with 19-year-old striker Dudik at South Shields.

But injuries at Carlisle have seen head coach Mike Williamson move to cut short their respective spells in non-league.

The move comes after it was confirmed midfield duo Josh Vela and Dylan McGeouch were ruled out for eight to ten weeks with injury.

Hetherington and Dudik have travelled with the United squad ahead of Saturday's League Two clash with Port Vale, with other injury issues believed to be affecting the Cumbrians.

Hetherington had been due to play for Workington at Lancaster City in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, where fellow Blues teenagers Jake Allan and Aran Fitzpatrick remain on loan.

Dudik's South Shields spell, meanwhile, has ended before the Mariners' home clash with Marine in National League North today.