Cumbrians wait on Chantler
Chris Chantler is a major doubt for Carlisle as they prepare to host Scunthorpe.
The left-back limped out of training this week with a recurrence of his ankle injury and now faces a race against time to prove his fitness to manager Greg Abbott.
Chantler is Abbott's only injury concern going into the game, with an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from.
Matty Robson and Peter Murphy, back available following a calf injury, provide the Blues boss with options as possible replacements.
Central defender Mike Edwards has fully recovered from a hamstring injury and is hoping for inclusion but Alessio Bugno, currently training in his native Italy, will not feature.
Paul Thirlwell and Danny Cadamarteri, both plagued by recent calf injuries, are also in line for selection as the hosts look for their fourth consecutive win at Brunton Park.
Scunthorpe will continue be without midfielder Damien Mozika as they prepare for their first game in a fortnight.
The clash at Brunton Park will come too soon for Mozika who is not expected to return to action from a hamstring tear until next month.
With last weekend's game against Portsmouth postponed due to a frozen pitch, Brian Laws' squad have been given an extra week to recover from their busy festive fixture schedule.
The Iron will also continue to be without right-back Christian Ribeiro who is also expected to spend an extended spell on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
Central defender David Mirfin and midfielder Josh Walker were both on the bench on their return from respective knee and ankle problems in their last game, a 2-1 win at Colchester, and will be pushing for starts.
That victory moved Laws' team out of the npower League One relegation zone for the first time since late September and they will be looking to extend their three-match unbeaten run against Greg Abbott's side.
Source: PA
Source: PA