MICK TAIT is backing out-of-favour midfielder Ashley Nicholls to bounce back stronger than ever.

The 21-year-old has failed to rediscover the form which made him a hit with the fans last season, and Quakers' boss Tait dropped him for the last two games.

Fears resurfaced that the former Ipswich youngster was unsettled in the North-East, despite agreeing a new deal during the summer.

However, Tait insists the player is happy at the club and is confident that after a spell on the sidelines Nicholls will once again prove to be a valuable asset to the squad - especially through such difficult times.

"He's been a little bit off form so we've give him a bit of a breather and a chance to sit back and have a look at things," said Tait.

"Ash will be back before long and he might even play this weekend. I've left him out for a couple of games and he's been fine with that.

"We came to an arrangement that he wasn't even on the bench. He's taken a back seat for a few games and hopefully he'll come bouncing back.

"All we're looking for is for Ash to come back and start playing as well as he was last season.

"I'm sure he will because we know how much ability he has."

Tait also hopes to welcome back winger Neil Wainwright after a three-match absence.

He has been sidelined with a groin injury but Tait revealed the 25-year-old "has a chance" of returning for the visit of managerless Carlisle.

And the Quakers' boss revealed there wasn't much he could say to his players this week after their fourth League defeat out of five at Rochdale.

Tait has seemingly resigned himself to the fact there are no funds available for much-needed team strengthening.

And even with chairman George Reynolds present at Spotland at the weekend, where the need for new faces was made so painfully obvious in the 4-2 humbling, the odds of seeing any new arrivals still remains slim.

Erdem Artun has been on trial at the club since pre-season and yesterday signed a month-long contract - but that is likely to be the end of Tait's transfer dealings.

"The players are fine and obviously they know they've got to work hard to put it right," said Tait.

"We'll have five good days this week and hope to put it right on Saturday. It's difficult to eliminate areas when we have decisions go against us. We just have to accept it and get on with it."

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