Carlisle United boss' fitness update on Omari Patrick and Kristian Dennis for Newport County trip

The attacking duo are hoping to overcome hamstring injuries in time for this weekend’s trip to Newport County.

Manager Simpson said he will wait until Friday morning before deciding whether the pair can travel to south Wales.

“It’s too early to make a decision on Kris and Omari as we speak right now,” Simpson said today.

“They’re both improving, and Denno was out on the grass with us again today. Omari wasn’t, but we’re hoping it was just a spasm with him rather than anything more serious.

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“We’ll all come back together for the Friday morning session and at that point I’ll have made the decision on whether they are fit and I can take a chance on them.

“If there’s any risk of it making it worse I won’t be taking that chance. It’s more important they’re fit for the longer term rather than for a one game situation and we take a chance of making it even worse.”

Simpson said that, if the two frontmen are showing positive signs of improvement, they are likely to travel.

“There’s every possibility they will,” he said. “I’ve already asked this morning if there’s room to get an extra [hotel] room if needs be if we need to take 20.

Kristian Dennis (photo: Ben Holmes) (Image: Ben Holmes)

“If I find out tomorrow there’s no improvement on one or both of them, I’m not going to risk it. But I’m not going to just take 19 with those two involved, and risk only having 17 on the teamsheet.

“I think that’s a bit disrespectful to the club to do that. Also if an opportunity opens up for a young player to come along, if it’s a Nic Bollado, Ryan Carr or one of the other younger boys who deserve an opportunity, I would much rather take somebody, even if I’m not intending to put them on but want them to have the experience of being involved in the first team.

“We will see. We’ll be in early Friday to find out how they feel. Ross [Goodwin, United’s physio] rings them first thing to find out if there has been any improvement or reaction.

“I’ll probably get an idea this evening but also confirmation tomorrow morning then we’ll take it from there.”

Simpson said his team for Newport will be clear in his mind when United train tomorrow before making the trip to Wales.

Also on the injury front, meanwhile, Ryan Edmondson is getting closer to a return.

Simpson said of the striker: “Ryan is out on the grass and doing football and running, not with the rest of the group but he’s training with everybody else.

“Being really optimistic, there’s a possibility he could be involved in the game against Crewe [next Saturday]. This weekend’s too early and I would think Grimsby would be too early.

“Even though I could put him on the bench, I have to have lads on that bench in the knowledge they might have to come on in the first minute and need to be fit enough to do 80-odd minutes.

“If Ryan’s not at that point it’s too early to involve him. We’ll see what work he gets with the group next week.”

Tobi Sho-Silva is making positive progress from a hamstring injury but is still “a few weeks” away, Simpson said, adding that Joel Senior has been at St George’s Park this week as part of his return from a knee injury.

Ben Barclay (photo: Richard Parkes) (Image: Richard Parkes)

Ben Barclay, meanwhile, is “a couple of weeks” away. “He’s been out running and doing football today,” Simpson said.

“He’s had a huge improvement over the last week because it was still a bit sore last week and we were thinking it might be a bit of a delay, but it’s settled down really well.

“He’s out working, and he wants to be back out there as soon as possible – they all do, we’ve got to make the right judgement as when’s the right time and it’s not too soon for them.”