37-year-old Preece has missed the last nine games after injuring his ankle in training, while Shelley suffered a fractured cheekbone at Aldershot on September 25. Both players came through a reserve game this week at Chester's Deva Stadium which ended in a 4-0 defeat. Preece had been starting up front in a three-man attack before his injury. He has scored four goals in five starts. He will be hoping to break back into the starting line-up on Saturday. Paul Simpson has reverted to a 4-4-2 line-up in recent games but may decide to go back to 4-3-3 now that Preece is available again. Shelley will be expected to oust Lee Andrews from the right-back berth if he is passed fit to start. The news means only Simpson himself and Carlos Roca remain on the long-term injury list. Roca is due to resume jogging next week after a knee operation last month. Simpson has had pain killing injections in his knee but has not been able to come back yet after a summer operation. He has been considering retirement, but is determined to give it one last shot at the age of 38. Kevin Henderson needed six stitches in a leg wound on Saturday and is unlikely to be ready in time for Hereford. Meanwhile, injured players could be coming back more quickly in future after local businessman Brooks Mileson donated a new physio machine which treats injuries and speeds up recovery. Physio Neil Dalton has already trialed the technology and was suitably impressed to ask for help in acquiring it permanently. Another boost for the Blues came with the news that loanee Magno Vieira will remain at Brunton Park for at least another month. He will extend his stay to a third month after which United must either sign him permanently or take him on a season's long loan. Any such long-term loan arrangement must be agreed before December 31. He is not likely to appear in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round against York City on October 30 as his club Wigan Athletic have not granted him clearance to play. The Latics are top of the Coca-Cola Championship but may want the Brazilian teenager available as cover for their FA Cup games which don't begin until the Third Round on January 8. Lotto produces first Jackpot winner The Blues Lotto, the new weekly lottery game that benefits United, has produced its first jackpot winner after just three weeks. Winner of the £1,000 prize is Sharon Easton, who works in Debenham's store in Carlisle. She bought the ticket from United 'super fan' Tommy Coleman and collected her cheque yesterday. The Blues Lotto is being run by the United Trust, who are hoping to raise a total of £350,000 before the end of the season to complete the purchase of 25.1% of the shareholding in CUFC Holdings, the club's parent company. Already they have raised £200,000 and the ultimate target is £500,000. Brooks Mileson has promised to match £1 for £1 every donation made since October 1. He has already handed over a cheque for £25,000 to match the donations made since the appeal was launched in the summer. Lotto tickets can be bought at any one of twelve participating agents throughout Carlisle and the local area. A form can also be downloaded from the Trust's website to enable players to play the game permanently. For more info, visit www.united-trust.org.uk Picture from News & Star |
