Sheffield United goalkeeper Jake Eastwood's loan at Ross County cut short amid struggle for minutes
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Ross County's on-loan goalkeeper Jake Eastwood is set to return to parent club Sheffield United, according to Malky Mackay.
The 26-year-old has made just two appearances for the Staggies, both in the League Cup at the beginning of the campaign, as he struggled to dislodge Ross Laidlaw from the starting 11.
Mackay hailed his professionalism, saying he understands Eastwood's desire to play and admitting it is the best thing for him at this stage of his career.
"Jake is going to go back to Sheffield United," Mackay confirmed.
"He has been a great pro here for the first half of the season, but Ross' form has meant that his chances and opportunities have been more limited than they might have been.
"He's a good lad, and at his age he needs to play, so I had a conversation with him and I think he's going to look to see what his situation is in the coming week.
"He might go right back out on loan to somewhere in England, but here Ross Munro will step up.
"There are no numbers to him, but Ross will be our sub goalie. He has done really well, he's a really good pro and he will come in as number two at the moment."
Other departures?
Mackay has previously alluded to decisions that need to be made this month about the immediate futures of Alex Samuel, Matthew Wright and Adam Mackinnon.
Samuel has recently returned to training after spenting the vast majority of 2022 on the treatment table with a cruciate injury, while Wright and Mackinnon impressed on loan at Montrose in the first half of the campaign.
"I've said before that Alex Samuel is going to need some football, so we'll be looking to see if there's a loan option for him until the end of the season," Mackay added.
"(Wright and Mackinnon) will be a late decision. They are two great kids, I love them both, and they are both boys that are going to have a big future for Ross County.
"It's just a decision as to what happens next – whether they both stay in for the second half of the season like they did last year to help the group, or whether the bigger picture of their longer-term development calls for them to go and get six months out again.
"We'll see where that goes, but that will probably be determined by what we can get in as well.
"If we played them in the meantime, they would only be able to go out to Montrose. That wouldn't be a hardship, because they were terrific there and Stewart Petrie did really well with them.
"It would be really easy for them to go back to Montrose, but for me it's more of a question of whether we keep them here. There are positives to both.
"I wouldn't have them involved to then limit the option of what we do. It's really about deciding in two or three weeks time what their next six months look like."
