Paul Simpson said a family issue meant Jon Mellish missed Carlisle United’s friendly at St Mirren.

The defender was absent from the Blues squad in Paisley.

United’s manager explained that it was a personal matter which saw Mellish return home at a time his team-mates were heading to St Mirren for Friday night’s 2-2 draw.

“He left us yesterday [Thursday],” Simpson said. “It is a family issue that he had to go back for.

“He got the train out of St Andrews [where United had been training for the week], and he had planned to be back on a train to come and meet us here today.

“He was going to get the 1.30pm train back, but I spoke to him at 1.10pm, and he said he’d had to go to another hospital, and they were doing some tests, and everything.

“I made the decision and said that it was really important he stayed and dealt with it, and he can join us next week – simple as that.”

Another first-team player to miss out at St Mirren was Cameron Harper.

The wing-back was with the squad at the SMiSA Stadium but was not involved in the game.

Terell Thomas, left, earned a late draw for Carlisle at St MirrenTerell Thomas, left, earned a late draw for Carlisle at St Mirren (Image: Ben Holmes)

Simpson said the summer signing’s groin, which saw him substituted in the first half of the previous friendly at Workington Reds, was still causing Harper some discomfort.

“It’s a little bit of a concern,” said the Blues boss.

“It's definitely settling down and he's able to do the running and the turning.

“It's literally just when he starts striking a ball and trying to whip a ball [that there is still discomfort], so we're not prepared to risk it and make it worse.

“We're hoping it'll settle down and he'll be able to join in training this week, but we'll just monitor it and see how he goes.”

Simpson added that teenager Sam Hetherington was not risked at St Mirren after feeling some fatigue in his hamstring.