Taiwo completed a permanent move to Carlisle in January 2010

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott says midfielder Tom Taiwo will return to the first XI when he sees fit.

Taiwo, 19, last started a game for Carlisle against Stockport on 23 January and was an unused sub for the 2-0 defeat by Swindon on Saturday.

"He's had a lot of football. He's going to be a big player and when I think the time is right to play Tom, I'll play him," Abbott told BBC Cumbria.

"We've got a good squad and I'll select from that squad."

Supporters have been critical of Taiwo's absence in recent matches, after the former Chelsea player enjoyed a regular spell in the first team during his loan-spell at the end of 2009.

But since signing a permanent deal last month, Taiwo has largely been restricted to substitute appearances for the Cumbrians.

Abbott's achievements in leading the club to a Johnstone's Paint Trophy final against Southampton at Wembley at the end of March have been tempered in recent matches by two straight defeats at the hands of Huddersfield and Swindon.

But despite the slip-ups, Abbott is adamant in the long-term his side is moving in a positive direction.

"When you have two negative results in football you have a lot of things on your mind, and that is one of the big things on my mind," he said.

"You look at a lot of things and think 'How can I put this right?' but the truer, bigger reflection is there's not a great deal wrong.

"Over 15-20 games, that's when you've got too look at what's been happening, things have been okay.

"You come into work, you've had the Sunday to digest it all and think about every case scenario, you put your best thoughts into practice on Monday and try to come up with a plan that will be right for tomorrow night, and that's what I've done."

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