YORK City boss Jackie McNamara has suggested that it is unlikely Michael Coulson will rejoin National League promotion hopefuls Grimsby before the transfer window closes.

Coulson is the club’s second-top scorer with five goals this season despite missing long periods of 2015/16 following two groin operations.

But the 27-year-old attacker returned to action against Newport last weekend after seven weeks on the sidelines and, in response to rumours linking Coulson with a return to the Mariners who he left for Bootham Crescent in the summer of 2012, McNamara said: "I don't think that's something we would look at.

"He's out of contract in the summer, but he's just coming back from injury and we want him to try and keep us in the League. He came on at the weekend and we'll see how he is before we decide on our team against Carlisle for Saturday.

"There's no doubting his quality and he's looking stronger in training but, if he does start, we will have to see how long he lasts." Carlisle have travelled 800 miles during the last week, having played out a 0-0 draw at Barnet last weekend before securing a penalty shoot-out victory after two hours of football at Yeovil in the FA Cup three days later.

That triumph clinched a lucrative home clash with Everton a week on Sunday but McNamara does not expect the Cumbrians to be jaded by their recent schedule or distracted by the Toffees tie.

Keith Curle's men will also be playing their first match at Brunton Park since the end of November following flood damage to their ground and the Minstermen's chief reasoned: "They will be confident and, in this league, everyone is used to travelling.

"You play three games in a week quite often too and we will be doing a lot of that soon. Playing on a Saturday after a Tuesday game gives you plenty of time to rest.

"It would be different if you were playing Wednesday/Saturday or Saturday/Monday, but they've had ample chance to recover. They will also be out to put on a good show in their first game back in their stadium, but we must go there to try and get the three points."

McNamara went on to express his disappointment that Tuesday's North Riding Cup clash at Guisborough Town was postponed.

The ex-Scotland captain had planned to run the rule over trialist Derek Riordan in the game, but plans to invite the former Celtic striker back for training next week, saying: "He's shown a lot of quality in training in terms of his finishing.

"He's headed back to Scotland this weekend and I'd like to see him in a game, but I want him to come back next week and we'll decide whether we offer him something. Hibs' young striker Jason Cummings has spoken about how much Derek has helped him score a lot of goals this season, whilst he's been training with them.

"He's got a bad reputation for one or two silly things he did earlier in his life, but he's not a bad person."

Newcastle defender Lubo Satka, meanwhile, is still set to join City on loan following his return from Slovakia under-21 duty this weekend.