Carlisle United’s Jamie Devitt has been sidelined for four months with the hamstring injury he suffered against Salford City.

Manager Paul Simpson today revealed the extent of the injury which has left the midfielder “as low as a snake’s belly”.

The Blues boss pledged that Carlisle would do as much as they can to look after 32-year-old Devitt, who will undergo an operation next week.

“It’s a really bad one – I think it’s a 3C hamstring tear, so we’re looking at 16 weeks for him,” said Simpson.

“He’s under the knife for surgery on Tuesday down in London, so that’s him done for the season.

“He’s as low as a snake’s belly, that’s the truth of it. He’s had a horrendous time not just this season but for the past couple of seasons.

“His body just keeps breaking down on him and this is the same hamstring he had surgery on last time. I think it’s in a different area but it’s still surgery.

“He’s obviously really upset, it’s horrendous for him and his family. We’ll look after him regardless – we’ll give him the right sort of care and attention.

“He’ll be looked after by a top surgeon and get the treatment that he needs. Then he has a decision to make about what he wants to do moving forward.”

Devitt was crestfallen when, after coming off the bench in last weekend’s 3-2 home defeat to Salford, he suffered the injury and had to be replaced.

The popular midfielder now faces an uncertain future with his Blues contract up at the end of the season.

Simpson, though, said the only focus at the moment was on ensuring Devitt gets the best treatment and care.

“That doesn’t come into it now,” United’s boss said of the contract situation.

“The way football contracts go means his will go until the end of June then until the end of July if he doesn’t get a club.

“He’ll be looked after properly, we’ll make sure of that. He’ll get the surgery then we’ll do his rehab properly with him, then he’ll have to decide what he wants to do.

“We’ll continue to speak to him and see him. He’s been back in today for the first time since the weekend and he’s a little bit better than he was when I spoke to him on Monday or Tuesday.

“I think the reality of it has now hit him and he knows what he’s got in store. Luckily he’s a strong character and a big personality, and we’ve got people here who will look after him.”

Simpson reported no fresh injury issues ahead of Monday’s clash with Sutton United, where the Blues will be out to seal a play-off place.

News and Star: Brennan Dickenson is back in full training, Paul Simpson saysBrennan Dickenson is back in full training, Paul Simpson says

Of those on their way back from injury, he said Brennan Dickenson has rejoined full training this week after missing the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

But Simpson played down the idea of using Dickenson in Carlisle’s final game of the campaign or in the play-offs.

He added that Morgan Feeney and Fin Back remained on track to be available should Carlisle reach the play-off final.

On Dickenson, Simpson said: “He’s joined in full training three days this week. But he’s been out for nearly ten months, or whatever it’s been, so it would be a rash or rushed decision to have to use him.

“It’s one of those where I can’t just be selfish because I might be short on numbers.

“We’ll see between now and Monday exactly what we can and can’t do with him.”

Tobi Sho-Silva, Simpson added, did his first full session back with the squad today but was still “a week or two” away from doing more intensive work.

“Morgan Feeney, Fin Back…if everything goes swimmingly in terms of their rehab, and swimmingly for us in terms of our results, they would be available if we had a game on May 28,” added the Blues boss.

“Jack Ellis probably won’t be available this season, he’s looking at the middle of June.”

Simpson has Sam Fishburn and Kay Nugent available after the end of their respective loans with Morpeth Town and Workington Reds.

The young duo have trained with the squad this week.

Simpson added: “I know I’ve got enough to go to Sutton. I’ve got a good enough group to go to Sutton and that’s the only thing on my mind at the moment.

“We’ll take a group down there and prepare properly, we’ll hopefully put on the right sort of performance for our travelling supporters which will then set us up for what will be a fantastic thing after that.”