Paul Simpson saluted Tobi Sho-Silva for his tireless performance on his first Carlisle United start for eight months.

The striker came into the Blues side against Tranmere and led the line doggedly in the 2-1 FA Cup victory.

It was his first start of the season and his first since March’s league game against Newport County.

It followed a hamstring injury that had kept him out from pre-season until late October.

Sho-Silva ran himself into the ground against Tranmere before being replaced on the hour.

Simpson said the former Sutton United man deserved his outing – and did not let the side down.

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“He got injured on the Monday before the first game of the season, so he’s been out a long time,” said Simpson.

“But he’s worked extremely hard, he does things properly and he’s a good professional the way he goes about it.

“Saturday was reward for all that work.

“He gets that chance because others are unavailable, but that isn’t his fault – he’s just got to be ready and he was certainly ready. I was really pleased with him.

“He made the first goal with a good run and he worked the goalkeeper, and thankfully Jordan [Gibson] was there to tap it over the line.”

It was only Sho-Silva’s fifth start for Carlisle, the 27-year-old having made impact several times as a sub last term.

His role against Tranmere was crucial at a time United were without a number of their other senior strikers.

The popular Londoner competed well against a Tranmere back line that included ex-Blues loan man Dynel Simeu and the experienced Tom Davies.

Simpson added: “We knew it was going to be tough – especially when they changed their shape and played with a back three, we knew he [Sho-Silva] was going to have to have a physical battle.

“I didn’t want him to get involved in a fight with them, I just wanted him to go and compete, and he did. I thought he did really, really well.

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“I’m really pleased for him. He’ll get so much confidence from that. He’ll also get an hour of proper fitness work. You can’t simulate that sort of thing in training, as hard as you try.

“He’s worked his socks off, I’m quite sure he’ll sleep tonight, he’ll be tired tomorrow but he’ll come in on Monday morning and want to be involved again at Harrogate on Tuesday night.”

Simpson was also delighted for Jayden Harris after the midfielder got his first United goal with Saturday’s winner.

The sub struck after replacing Sho-Silva in the second half.

“He’ll be well chuffed,” said United’s manager. “Because he’s come on in some games and done really well, and I thought I’d put him on there because I just wanted some energy with his running power.

“What a great bit of skill it was to take it round the goalkeeper. I thought he’d made the wrong decision and he should have slotted it with his right foot, thankfully it’s still a goal and in a week or two I won’t remember how he’s done it, it’s still a goal.

“It looked over the line and if [the referee] hadn’t given the goal he’d have had to give Dynel Simeu a red card because he handballed it and pushed it back out – or that’s how it looked to me.”