HIS side is sitting third in the UAE league, but Nicky Carle will still be back in Sydney FC's colours ready for a third season at the club according to coach Frank Farina.

Carle's season-long loan deal with Pro-League side Baniyas expires in July, and so far there has been no move by the Dubai-based club to make it a permanent move.

Despite a successful league season, with the local press hailing Baniyas as the quiet achievers of the Pro-League, Baniyas have already released several foreign players.

Though local media has reported interest in Carle from at least one other UAE side, Farina said he expected Carle to "add something good" to the Sky Blues squad.

Having left as Sydney's marquee player, Carle's salary will be absorbed into Sydney's cap for next season as Alessandro Del Piero and Brett Emerton remain the club's cap-exempt signings.

"I'm expecting him to be in the squad certainly," Farina said. "I've spoken to him already, and he'll give us something different, like a new signing.

"He'll pick up where he left off (having been at Sydney since 2010 before the loan move) and he's a good player who will add another dimension to us. Contrary to what a lot of people might think he does work hard, technically he's very good.

"He's got a winning mentality, and I'm expecting him to add something good next season."

Carle has scored twice in 16 games for Baniyas this season, though the club faces a difficult run-in and have faded from realistic title contention.

Asked if there was any prospect of Baniyas making an offer to keep a player described in the UAE press as able to "combat and create", Farina said he had heard nothing so far.

"That I don't know - as far as I know he's definitely coming back," he said. "Of course, in football things can change very quickly, as you saw with his initial loan deal from here.

"But I'm expecting him to be part of pre-season."

One player definitely returning to the A-League is Emile Heskey, who signed a new contract with Newcastle yesterday to confirm a second season with the Jets.

As News Limited revealed on Friday, Newcastle had agreed terms with Heskey for a $700,000 second season - with Hunter Sports Group CEO Troy Palmer confirming the news at the club's awards night on Tuesday night. Yesterday the deal was inked, and Heskey is looking forward to next year.

"Everyone has made me feel very welcome here and I've really enjoyed my first season playing for the Jets," Heskey said.

"I'm looking forward to getting a full pre-season under my belt and helping the team push for a finals place next season."

Originally published as Carle set for Sky Blues return