Carlisle United team news update ahead of Bradford City play-off clash

And two of the Blues’ long-term injury absentees could be coming back into the picture in time for the double-header against the Bantams.

While all United’s recent first-team starters are available – other than those suspended – Simpson also has Tobi Sho-Silva and Brennan Dickenson back in full training.

He has not ruled out calling on the pair as Carlisle aim to get past Mark Hughes’ side and reach Wembley.

“Everybody has trained all week, we had no issues from last weekend,” said Simpson on the eve of Sunday's first leg clash at Valley Parade.

“Everybody’s fit, raring to go, and hopefully we’ll be able to go and show that come Sunday evening.”

Striker Sho-Silva is returning from an ankle injury while Dickenson has come back from a cruciate knee ligament absence.

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There could be roles on the fringes of things for the duo as Simpson weighs up all his options.

“They’re getting closer,” said the Carlisle boss of Sho-Silva and Dickenson.

Simpson says his Carlisle players have a steely determination about them ahead of Sunday's play-off clash (Image: Richard Parkes)

“They’ve trained for another week with us now, so they’re getting training minutes in their legs and in their heads more than anything.

“That’s an important part of it – they need to feel comfortable in their own minds that they’re fully fit to go.

“We’ll wait and see whether they’ve done enough to be involved at Bradford, or whether they need another week to be involved in the home tie.”

Simpson has said that defenders Morgan Feeney and Fin Back could return if Carlisle make the play-off final.

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“Morgan is out there running and Fin is doing his rehab back at Forest,” said the Blues boss.

Carlisle’s manager said his players have been in a good frame of mind amid this week’s semi-final preparations.

“It’s a bit different now – I think there was a little bit of nervousness leading into the last couple of games of the season, just to try and get yourself over the line,” he said.

“I always think in a season that the first point is a really difficult one to get, then the last ones to get you over [the line] are difficult, and you start to get a little bit twitchy.

“We now put that one to bed, and I think there’s been a little bit more relaxation this week in terms of how they’ve gone about it, but a definite steely focus in terms of how we want to go into this game at Bradford and how we want to go and give ourselves a real good chance.”