Captain Morgan Feeney has given Carlisle United a boost by returning to full fitness.

Paul Simpson said the defender, back from a hamstring injury, would have been ready to face Barrow today.

While United’s clash with their fellow Cumbrians was postponed, the return of Feeney for the Blues’ other December fixtures restores one of Simpson’s most influential players to contention.

Feeney had suffered the injury in United’s 4-1 victory at Salford City three weeks ago.

The 23-year-old former Everton and Sunderland man will now target a first-team comeback at Northampton Town next Saturday.

“He would have been ready to play if we’d played on Saturday,” said Simpson of the defender.

“He’s only missed a little bit. He’s done a full week of training, got to maximum speed last week, trained this week, and he’s back moaning like hell again so he must be fully fit.

“We’ll monitor him over the next week and make a decision for Northampton as to what’s the right team to play there.”

READ MORE: Simmo's response to postpoment of Carlisle United v Barrow