Carlisle United: fit-again duo set to boost squad for FA Cup

The duo are back from injury and in contention for next weekend’s FA Cup clash at Leyton Orient.

The return of the experienced pair after calf injuries is welcome for a game when Carlisle will be without at least two more of their front line players.

Simpson said neither of the duo can be guaranteed a place - but their availability will still be timely for the first round tie, with Jack Armer and Alfie McCalmont both set to be suspended after their red cards in the 1-0 defeat at Cambridge United.

“Dylan will be back – he’ll be back available,” said Simpson of the midfielder.

“I think Hunts will be available because he trained fully with the group [last] Friday and then did some extra running to top him up.

• LISTEN: Paul Simpson reflects on Cambridge defeat and how Blues must respond

“We’ll see what he’s like this week.”

Former Celtic man McGeouch has yet to get going as a Carlisle player after an injury-plagued start to his Blues career.

The 30-year-old will now aim to add to his three first-team outings to date.

Huntington has been out since early October but Simpson said the veteran Cumbrian may have to be patient to get back in the side given the form of fellow defenders Sam Lavelle and Jon Mellish.

“Again, I thought the two centre-halves did their job [at Cambridge],” said the manager.

“Even although it’s a midfielder who scores the goal in the middle of the 18-yard box, a midfielder has to track that run so I’m not blaming either of those two.

“So Hunts has got a job getting back into the team.”

Jack Armer's suspension could give Jack Robinson, pictured, a chance at left-back (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Simpson said none of United’s other sidelined players was likely to return for the Orient trip.

Carlisle’s boss, meanwhile, will need to assess Fin Back’s fitness after the right-back pulled out of Saturday’s game on the warm-up with a dead leg.

Ben Barclay will again be on standby to start in his place with another right-back, Jack Ellis, still ruled out.

• Cambridge manager's verdict on his side's win over Carlisle

Armer’s one-match ban could hand Jack Robinson a start at left-back, while McCalmont’s midfield absence with a three-game suspension could open the door for McGeouch to rejoin the squad.

On Barclay’s involvement at Cambridge, after Back withdrew from the warm-up, Simpson said: “He did ok at right-back.

“He had a tough job because with Sullay Kaikai, and Saikou Janneh and then JK Gordon coming on, he had three tough opponents to face, lads with real pace about them.

“When you look at what we’ve got in comparison to [Cambridge], they’ve got far more pace than us and that’s something we’ve got to try and add to the group.

“I thought he stuck to his job well. I don’t blame Ben for the defeat. Ben was one of a group of players who as a collective, and staff as well – we’re all in it as a collective – didn’t perform well enough.”