Paul Simpson will be handed a further fitness boost when Ryan Edmondson returns to full training at Carlisle United this week.

The former Leeds United striker is close to a return after being sidelined with a hip problem.

Simpson said Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy game against Manchester United Under-21s would probably be too soon for Edmondson.

But he could be in the mix for a return in United’s next league game against Rochdale next Saturday.

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“We’re expecting Ryan Edmondson back in training on Monday after doing bits with us this week,” Simpson said after the 1-0 win over Gillingham.

“He should be with the rest of the group so we can start building him up and getting him ready to come back into it.

“He was saying to me on Friday he was ok and could he join in, but we had to be careful.

“He’s had an ultrasound scan on the top of his thigh today [Saturday], and it’s definitely settling down. It’s improving because of him being shut down for games.

“He’s done a lot of work – he got up to about 95 per cent of his high speed on Thursday and Friday, we now get an opportunity to have a full week of work with him, and hopefully he’ll be ready to come into the 18.

“Whether he’s right to start or not we’ll have to see come the weekend. We just hope he comes through the week with no issues.”

On the outside chance of the 21-year-old being involved in Tuesday’s Trophy game, United’s manager said: “I don’t think Edmo will be involved on Tuesday. But we’ll see how he is.

“Whether or not it’s right to have him on the bench, we’ll see. It is too early at the moment to make that call.”

Edmondson's return comes after Owen Moxon was back in the side on Saturday after a thigh injury and Morgan Feeney came off the bench in the second half having recovered from a foot problem.

Simpson, meanwhile, said he hoped a couple of illness issues in the squad before Saturday’s game do not develop.

“We had one feeling sick as he went up the tunnel before the game and one was feeling a bit faint at half-time,” he said.

“That’s a bit of a concern that maybe there’s a bit of a bug going around and maybe that affected them.

“It’s not an excuse [for performance], but we have to make sure that we’re better and physically prepared come Tuesday night.”