KEVIN Lisbie had mixed emotions following the closure of the transfer window yesterday.

Stuart Watson

KEVIN Lisbie had mixed emotions following the closure of the transfer window yesterday.

With Ipswich Town failing to find a buyer for their unwanted striker it means that the 31-year-old will now see out the remainder of his season-long loan deal at Colchester United.

And while Lisbie is excited to be part of the Essex club's promotion push, he admits he would have preferred the security of a permanent switch elsewhere.

“I'm happy with it all being over and done with for now,” said Lisbie, who admitted he would have welcomed a move to League One rivals Southampton following their interest earlier this month.

“I've always said that I would love to stay and try to help get Colchester promoted, but obviously it would have been better for me to have found a club and got a two or three year contract.”

Lisbie still has a year and a half left on his Portman Road contract but has said he 'doesn't see himself playing for Ipswich again' following a fall out with manager Roy Keane.

“I know that the Southampton move was really close,” admitted Lisbie. “I was also told that another Championship side showed interest, but I only heard that third party so who knows how much was in that. “I'm 31 years old now and, although I don't like to think like this way, this probably will be my last long contract.

“I still feel I can play in the Championship and hopefully, if Colchester get promoted, then I will be able to do that here. It's now a case of waiting until the summer and seeing what happens.”

Meanwhile, Colchester will be aiming to get their promotion campaign back on track tonight when they host Carlisle United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The U's are now 11 points off second-place Leeds following Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Elland Road.

Late fitness tests will once again be issued to defenders Paul Reid (calf) and Christian Ribeiro (groin), while David Prutton could be handed his first start for the club after his loan move was made permanent yesterday.

January signing Ian Henderson could also be back in the squad as he has now served the three game suspension issued following his red card debut against former club Norwich.

The 14th place Cumbrians, who threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with Leyton Orient on Saturday, trained in Peterborough yesterday before travelling on to a hotel in Colchester.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott was forced to bring in two strikers on loan yesterday to boost his depleted forward line. Darryl Duffy arrived on a temporary three month switch from Bristol Rovers, while teenager Ben Marshall was signed for a month from Stoke City.

Duffy started his career at Rangers and joined the Pirates from Swansea for a fee of �100,000 in 2008. He now looks set to make his Carlisle debut as Scott Dobie is suspended, while the in-form Joe Anyinsah limped off injured on Saturday.

Colchester: Williams, Cousins, White, Tierney, Okuonghae, Heath, Reid, Knudsen, Ifil, Wordsworth, O'Toole, Izzet, Fox, Henderson, Platt, Lisbie, Odejayi, Gillespie.

Carlisle: Collin, Pidgeley, Keogh, Horwood, Livesey, Harte, Murphy, Robson, Hurst, Clayton, Thirlwell, Bridge-Wilkinson, Taiwo, Duffy, Madine, Kavanagh, Marshall, Offiong.

By Stuart Watson

staying: Kevin Lisbie will stay on loan at the U's for the rest of the season