Parker will be free to return to Leeds after his short-term deal with Darlington expires on April 5, but McAllister is weighing up the option of allowing him to finish the season with the League Two club.

The 20-year-old was sent out of Elland Road last month following United's signing of Stephen O'Halloran on loan from Aston Villa, but an immediate injury to O'Halloran left McAllister short of recognised left-backs.

Parker's recall at the end of his initial loan with Darlington seemed certain once O'Halloran returned to Villa without making an appearance for Leeds, but Alan Sheehan appears to have reinstated himself as United's first-choice left-back.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international – on loan at Leeds from Leicester City until the end of the season – returned to McAllister's starting line-up against Walsall on Saturday after a four-game absence.

And United's boss looks to be ready to rely on Sheehan for the rest of the campaign, despite admitting the defender had initially struggled to cope with the demands of first-team football.

Sheehan's apparent resurgence may lead McAllister to extend Parker's stay with Darlington, but he insisted that Parker should still expect to be part of United's long-term plans after rising through the club's youth-team ranks.

McAllister said: "We've got a decision to make there.

"I sat and had a chat with Ben before he went out on loan, and he's got a big future here.

"He's a young player who's come up through the ranks and I'm very keen to keep the tradition going of Leeds United academy players coming through into the first team.

"He just needs a bit of time."

Parker has made seven league appearances for Darlington, contributing to a campaign which could see Dave Penney's side promoted from League Two automatically.

Parker also started all five of United's matches preceding McAllister's appointment at Elland Road in January, but the Leeds boss quickly looked to other alternatives by recruiting Sheehan from Leicester and O'Halloran from Villa.

He would be likely to insist on a 24-hour recall clause, however, were Leeds to extend their agreement with Darlington.

The purchase of Lubomir Michalik from Bolton, meanwhile, has edged Paul Huntington away from United's first-team, but McAllister has also moved to clarify Huntington's position at Elland Road, confirming that the ex-Newcastle centre-back is a part of his future plans.

McAllister said: "Paul Huntington's another youngster who's got a part to play."

Huntington joined Leeds from the Magpies in August but has made a total of 14 appearances this season. He has not started a game since United's 1-0 defeat at Southend United on the day McAllister took charge of the club.