Jack Ellis missed Carlisle United's reserve win through injury - but assistant manager Gavin Skelton says the defender shouldn't be out for long.

The young Cumbrian defender sat out the 3-2 win over Blackpool in the Central League Cup.

Ellis suffered a niggle last week and the 19-year-old was working his way back to fitness, United’s No2 said.

“Hopefully [he won’t be out] too long. He’s doing his rehab,” said Skelton.

“It’s a minor thing, I think he felt something last Tuesday [in his] groin/hip flexor area.

“Hopefully it’s minor. If he was desperately needed today I’m sure he could have played.”

Skelton, meanwhile, played down any concerns over Corey Whelan after the defender was substituted late on in the Blackpool game.

Whelan went down for treatment and was substituted by the Blues.

News and Star: United assistant boss Gavin SkeltonUnited assistant boss Gavin Skelton (Image: Richard Parkes)

But the United No2 said: “It was just a precaution.

“I wasn’t sure [how serious it was] when he first came off, but in [the dressing room] he said he was fine.”

United used the reserve game to give another outing to Ben Barclay, who completed 90 minutes after his recent return from a calf injury.

There were also appearances for fellow first-team players Jokull Andresson, Jack Robinson, Ryan Edmondson, Luke Plange, Dan Butterworth and Terry Ablade.

Ablade scored two with Butterworth the other in United’s victory in a game played on the new artificial pitch at Penrith AFC’s Leo Group Stadium.