With right back Paul Arnison suspended and striker Matty Fryatt having been recalled to the Bescot Stadium by his club Walsall, manager Paul Simpson will need to reshape the side that has gone four games unbeaten but remains 8 points adrift at the bottom of the table. Brian Shelley is hotly tipped to step into Arnison's shoes in defence while Craig Farrell is expected to start up front alongside Andy Preece. United signed the Preston forward Kelvin Langmead on loan yesterday but he is unlikely to force his way straight into the starting line-up tomorrow. Simpson was also chasing a midfielder as the deadline for signings approached. The match is subject to a pitch inspection tomorrow morning. The cold weather has affected the Brunton Park pitch but officials were confident the match would go ahead as planned. Paul Warhurst quit the club earlier this week after playing just 23 minutes as a substitute at Macclesfield last Saturday. Simpson has been looking for an attacking midfielder all season and now the search is on in earnest with the March transfer deadline only a few weeks away. With relegation rivals Southend and Macclesfield clashing at Roots Hall tomorrow, United know if they can defeat the promotion-chasing Terriers, they can close the gap at the bottom. Their 24 points tally from 32 games is no longer the lowest in club history, having edged ahead of Martin Wilkinson's 1999-2000 team at the same stage of the season. Wilkinson's men finished above Chester on goal difference, but that would not be good enough to keep Carlisle up this season. Meanwhile striker Richie Foran has undergone an ankle operation and will be out for a month. Foran is unlikely to play for United again after being charged by Carlisle police with assault following an incident in a local nightclub a fortnight ago. Fellow bad boy Des Byrne did appear for the reserves this week as they defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1. Adam Rundle was on target in that match to claim the winner and he will be hoping for a recall from Simpson soon. Also in action against Wigan was midfielder Mark Summerbell, who has been out of action for months following illness and injury. Simpson admitted the former Middlesbrough player still some way short of match fitness after his appearance against the Latics' second string. Picture from News & Star |
