Ethan Robson looks set to be out of action for about three months in another pre-season hammer blow to Carlisle United.

The summer signing’s hamstring injury will keep him out for ten to 12 weeks, manager Paul Simpson said.

And 27-year-old Robson's lay-off could be even longer if surgery is required.

A scan on the injury Robson suffered in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Rochdale revealed the extent of the problem.

Simpson gave an update on the former MK Dons, Blackpool and Sunderland man after Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Gateshead.

“The way that he felt at the weekend, we thought it was going to be a bad one,” Simpson told the News & Star.

“It's a ten to 12 weeks best-case scenario because it's a tendon, and it's a slow process because if you try to rush them back, it can just go again.

“So we're just going to have to be really patient with him.

“He's absolutely gutted, because I think he looks a real good footballer. Somebody else is going to have to come in and take his place.”

Robson was having an online consultation this evening which would help to determine the full course of action on his recovery, including whether an operation would be needed.

“I haven't been told [the outcome of that] yet because we've just been concentrating on the game tonight," Simpson added.

“He had a scan yesterday and we saw what the damage was on the scan.

“So the feeling was it wouldn't need surgery, but he was going to see a surgeon on this consultation tonight just to know for definite what the course of action is.”

Simpson could now move in the transfer market to bolster his midfield options.

United’s boss also expects to bring in a loan attacking player from a Premier League club in the coming days.

Carlisle’s need for reinforcements looked as clear as ever after their latest poor pre-season showing in the north east.

“It wasn’t good enough,” Simpson said of United’s display at Gateshead.

“We know that we've got to be better. 

“It looks like a group that are trying to learn about each other, trying to understand each other.

“I maybe have to take a bit of that because we've made a lot of changes and I've changed it game to game as well.

“We’ve got to be better, and I’m confident we will be.”