26-year old former Hamilton and Morton wideman McAlister not lasting long with the Blues as he only played the first 45 minutes of the 5-0 win at Workington before then not featuring in the 4-0 victory at Barrow just four days later. Carlisle boss Greg Abbott citing a mutual decision to release McAlister from his trial spell after the played indicated that he wanted to continue his career in his native Scotland.
Meanwhile goalkeeper Taylor, 25, pinged on the radar early with a longer trial spell at Brunton Park. The out of contract Workington Reds stopper training with United for three weeks before the decision came to end his spell with Carlisle. Taylor never featuring in any of the pre-season friendlies for the Blues although he was in goal for the Reds in the match against United, a game in which he looked a little jittery throughout.
Joining the club now though at the Slaley Hall training camp this week is Ryan Donaldson (pictured) who will play in the game at Durham City this evening. The 21-year old attacking midfielder or striker was released by Newcastle at the end of last season after being with his hometown club since the age of ten, Donaldson making just two starts, both in the League Cup, and four substitute appearances, while scoring no goals in his time at St James' Park.
During his long spell on Tyneside the Newcastle-born player did have two periods away from the Toon on loan in League One. Donaldson having a three month loan spell down the road at Hartlepool at the end of the 2010-11 campaign where he made 11 starts and one substitute appearance, while in September 2011 he went to Tranmere for a month only to break down with a hamstring strain after just 25 minutes in his opening game for Rovers, an injury that would turn out to end his time on the Wirral very quickly.
He also has some experience of playing for England in the under-age groups, having in 15 appearances for the u-17 side scored an impressive ten goals, while for the u-19 outfit he featured ten times but only chipped in with one goal. Tonight though, after a recent trial spell at St Johnstone alongside former United striker Craig Curran, it's a 3G pitch at Durham City where he will be looking to impress as Blues boss Greg Abbott continues to check through trialists in pre-season.
Nine of them now having appeared on the scene that we have seen in matches with Harrison Blakey, Ross Lindsay, Jim McAlister and Aaran Taylor having already fallen by the wayside while Alessio Bugno, new boy Ryan Donaldson, Dale Hopson, Mark Kerr and Jonathan Meades remain upright in the battle for a contract at Brunton Park. Time ticking now on those decisions of who out of the remaining five stays and goes with the start of the season proper just two and a half weeks away.