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And with the Scotland under-19 international apparently set for his last game at Workington, Reds boss Darren Edmondson commented to BBC Radio Cumbria this evening on the situation with Aldred :
" When he signed the two month extension, Greg (Abbott) made me aware that it would be providing he kept playing to the standard he was raising his game that this would be the end of his loan and they would try to sort something out for him to go higher. And depending on how well he had done, fit Tom back into their system.
" So from what I can gather he is going to go back there and then through December see what happens. Then possibly take a loan out again if he doesn't feature, so I may go back at the start of January and see what is happening by then because he has been thoroughly outstanding. The way he is playing is leading to me to think that he will go and play for someone higher.
" For someone who is so young he is level-headed. His organisation is brilliant, he is an athlete, his general all-round game is fantastic. I think that there was a pre-season game that they all highlighted away at Kendal that he didn't have such a good game and let himself down, and that affected him totally through the summer period.
" We forget the way he has played for us that he has only just turned 19 and for a young age he has dominated this league. I wouldn't say he is ready for Carlisle United's first team at this particular moment I don't think. But he is not a million miles away from, in my opinion, whatever that is worth, going straight into their squad. "
As for Tom himself, well speaking to the PR-USA.Net website through the MyFirstAgent.com agency after Workington had won 2-0 at high-flying Corby in mid-November, Aldred commented :
" To go away from home and beat a side that's up at the top of the league is a really good result. I came off after the game with a black eye and three stitches though, because I was up against Jason Lee who has played up there in the Premiership with Nottingham Forest, and I think he did for me on purpose.
" He caught me on the side of the head with an elbow so I had to go off and get treatment, but I think I can take that as being a good thing because it's something else for me to learn about the competitive aspect of senior football.
" It has been a really good experience here and I've learned lots from it. I think it's important to be getting first team football from a young age - there's nothing better than getting out there and playing first team football.
" I've played in front of some big crowds and because it's a more competitive competition than being in the reserves at a bigger club, you're really playing for those points and gets you into the good mental habit of wanting to win because it really matters. it's pleasing from my point of view that we've got one of the best defensive records in the division - that's been one of our strengths throughout the season. "
" For someone like Darren Edmondson to come out and say the kind of things he's said about me this season has been a massive confidence boost. He's given me the belief that I can really go on and have a good career.
" Viv Busby and Tony Caig have all been a massive help to me too, and it has been great to be working with people who really want you to do well. I've not got long left here, but I'm looking forward to my last few games and hope I'll keep doing well and learning from the experience.
" I'm told that there are people from clubs higher up the leagues coming to our games so it's good to have the right sort of people potentially noticing me, because I'm keen to achieve things.
" I don't know how the season is going to pan out, but the key is just to do well for the rest of the month at Workington and go back to Carlisle to see how things go. I just hope I can continue to play at as high a level as I can for the rest of the season to get some more experience, and hopefully get a few games under my belt at Carlisle. "