Russell was released earlier this season by Scottish club St Johnstone. He began his career at Sunderland but moved to Manchester City for £1 million in 1998. After injuries took their toll, he was loaned out to Tranmere, Port Vale, Darlington and Oxford before he switched permanently to the Saints. Manager Roddy Collins will be hoping Russell's experience, when coupled with that of Jon McCarthy will rub off on his younger players. Fans have criticised Collins for not signing older players. The boss himself thinks Russell could make a big difference to the squad. "Everyone has been talking about experience, but I wanted to get the right player. I think Craig is the right player. He is coming until the end of the season with a view to extending that, depending on how he feels. His experience around the dressing room and around the club will be great for us. You will notice the difference this makes in everyone. He and Jon McCarthy will bounce off each other and the younger players will look up to them." With Richie Foran sitting out the last of his four-game suspension, and Mark Summerbell joining him on the sidelines after his sending off against Scunthorpe, United will be short of at least two regulars. McCarthy too has to miss this game because of his accumulation of yellow cards with his previous clubs this season. Darren Kelly and Dessie Byrne are injury worries. Exeter are lying two places below United in the table but have two games in hand. They have won one and drawn three of their last four league fixtures. Their last outing to Hull on Saturday saw them grab an injury time equaliser through Steve Flack to claim a point in a 2-2 draw. Defender Graeme Power had been sent off just a few minutes earlier. Manager Neil McNab knows his side start favourites to win tomorrow, which is hardly surprising since Carlisle have not won at St James Park since 1979. "I know we have now gone four games unbeaten and we will be expected by most people to have little trouble picking up another three points against another team struggling near the bottom of the table. But I would appeal for our fans to show a little bit of patience this weekend because it won't be an easy game. It is another massive game for us, although it feels that every game is critical at the moment," he said. Don Goodman is out of the Exeter side after picking up an injury in a reserve fixture against Swansea City and has hinted he may have to retire from the game as a result. He scored the Grecians first goal in their 2-0 win at Brunton Park back in August. 30-year-old striker Sean Devine has been signed from Wycombe to replace him until the end of the season. Devine previously played for Barnet. Flack and James Coppinger are also in the squad as striking options. Picture from News & Star |
