Luke Who's Staying For Another Season

Luke Joyce - 12 more months

That leaves fellow midfielder Grant Smith as the only Carlisle player currently out of contract, Smith seemingly taking his time as he mulls over his own offer of a fresh 12-month deal with the Cumbrians. The signing of Smith in mid-January this year actually pushing Joyce, who turns 21 next week, further down the pecking order at Brunton Park last season.

The Bolton-born midfielder, snapped up from Wigan in March 2006, only making two substitute appearances and one start in the 2007-08 campaign. Joyce did manage one goal in those brief outings though, as his introduction at half-time for Paul Thirlwell saw him find the net within five minutes to start off a 3-2 home comeback win over Port Vale in early January.

Whether Joyce will get many more chances this forthcoming campaign remains to be seen however. Luke already down the line for a starting place in a congested Carlisle midfield that sees Chris Lumsdon, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Paul Thirlwell, Grant Smith and Shaun Vipond already vying for two or three spots in the first eleven.