The 23-year-old forward has made the switch in a bid to get regular first team football after being left out of the starting line-up by boss Paul Simpson. Foran has been absent during United's recent four-game unbeaten run, missing the first two of those games due to suspension. He was on the bench for the games against Darlington and Boston. Oxford and former Cumbrians supremo Ian Atkins wants Foran to fill in for the suspended Julian Alsop and envisages him making the switch permanent, if everything goes well for him. However Carlisle owner John Courtenay revealed on the CUFC Online messageboard today that he expects Foran will return after his one month away and that the man who was top scorer in his first season at Brunton Park is still very highly thought of by the coaching staff at United. "He has done it for us on many occasions when anybody else would have cried off and has played through injuries without ever a thought for himself," commented Courtenay. "We all at the club and I mean ALL have the highest regard for Richie. He will be welcomed back here when the time comes in one month." Atkins has been impressed by Foran's commitment and will have been taking note of his perfomances against Oxford since the ex-Brunton Park boss took up the reins at the Kassam Stadium in December 2001. Foran scored the winner against the Bulls in the league clash at Carlisle in March 2002 and was on hand to convert a penalty when the Blues went down 2-1 at the Kassam last month. "We've got Julian Alsop suspended and we wanted to get another striker in. I saw he wasn't getting into the Carlisle side and asked the question whether we could have him. If you don't ask you don't find out and it is possible that he could join us permanently," he said. Russell tries out with Boston Boston United, conquered by United on Saturday could rescue Craig Russell from the soccer scrapheap after he was released by United last week following the expiry of his contract. The Pilgrims are taking Russell on trial and he will play a reserve game for them this week. Russell's agent Carl Dunn said he was hoping the move could become permanent. "Craig never seemed to get a good run at Carlisle. Other players weren't getting goals but he was often only getting half-an-hour here and there. He has been at Manchester City and Sunderland in the past and is now going to play for Boston's reserves with a view to getting a deal," he said. Picture from News & Star |
