Injury blow as Carlisle United captain Callum Guy ruled out for season

The midfielder has suffered medial knee ligament damage, manager Paul Simpson said today.

It followed the injury Guy suffered in last weekend’s victory at Barrow, which saw the United skipper substituted in the first half.

Simpson, speaking at his latest press conference today, confirmed that 25-year-old Guy was unlikely to kick a ball again this campaign.

“It wasn’t good news for Callum – he has some damage to his medial ligament,” Simpson said.

“We think that’s his season done, because it’s a six to eight week recovery process.

“That’s a real blow to us and a real blow to Callum as well.

Guy had to be substituted in the first half at Barrow

“He was doing a fine job, but it now opens the door for somebody else to come in and hopefully carry on from where Callum left off.”

The news means Guy - who said on Instagram that he was "gutted" at the news - joins fellow midfielder Jamie Devitt in being sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

Guy's comments on Instagram today

Simpson said the Blues would look after both players and that he wanted Guy now to join Devitt in lending his support to the team even though he can no longer be on the pitch.

“I’ve seen him the last couple of days, and I think he’s accepted it,” added Simpson of Guy.

“It’s the really unfortunate part of football that you are going to pick up injuries, especially when you’re as committed as Callum in the way he plays.

“It was a crunching tackle he went in for [at Barrow] – I don’t think it looked a bad tackle, it was just that his leg wasn’t in the right position and it just opened his knee up.

“We have to deal with it and get on with it, and make sure as a football club we look after him, keep him involved to have his value off the grass, and hopefully he’ll still be able to play his part for us.”

Jamie Devitt accompanied the squad to Barrow last weekend despite being ruled out with injury for the rest of the season

Devitt, who is out with a hamstring injury, does not need surgery, Simpson said, but was still facing a 12-week recovery period.

Devitt was with the squad at Barrow to show his support to the team, and United’s boss said Guy can do the same.

“He can’t be on the grass for us, he can’t be involved in training, so he can’t show his leadership qualities there, but he still adds value to this group,” Simpson added.

“Jamie is the same – he came to Barrow with us, he was at the pre-match meal, and he played a part in the changing room.

“I hope and know that Callum will do the same. I’ve talked about it from the first day I came in: it isn’t about a one to 11, it’s about the whole group.

“It doesn’t matter to me if players are on crutches, or if they’re injured, whether they’re on the bench or left out of the 18, they all have a part to play.

“I want everybody to be doing what they can to help us to win games.”

Simpson said Guy’s absence would now hand an opportunity for others in the United squad.

“We’ve got players who are classed as experienced in a young squad, people like Corey and Danny Devine, who will definitely come into the thinking,” said the manager, whose side face Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

“We’ll see come the weekend what team gets put out. It is now for somebody else to come into the side and grab hold of that position and make it their own for the last nine.”

On the injury front, meanwhile, Simpson said right-back Kelvin Mellor was a week to ten days away from a return.

Kelvin Mellor (photo: Barbara Abbott)

“He’s had a really good week of training and he’s obviously a fit lad because he’s slotted back into it so well,” Simpson added.

“I’m pleased with what he’s doing but we need to monitor him over the course of possibly another week or so, and we’ll see how he’s going on.

“Whether or not next week is still too early, we’ll just have to wait and see. Certainly by the Easter weekend I would hope to have him in a position where he can be involved.”