Carlisle United are counting the cost of two fresh injury blows amid their losing start to the League Two season.

Cameron Harper is out for up to four weeks – while Taylor Charters is sidelined for ten weeks.

The double blow to the left-sided players led manager Paul Simpson to bring in Ben Williams at short notice, with the new signing making his debut in the 4-1 opening-day defeat to Gillingham.

Both Harper and Charters pulled up in training during the build-up to the first game of the League Two campaign.

On summer signing Harper, Simpson said he has suffered a groin strain.

“It’s not good – three to four weeks.

“It's quite a mild strain there. It's actually a strain on scar tissue, so it's something that he's had previously.”

Charters, though, has a more serious injury to his hamstring – the latest in a number of such injuries to the versatile west Cumbrian.

“Taylor Charters is a real concern,” Simpson said.

“He felt what we thought was fatigue on Friday last week, so we left him out of the [pre-season] game against Stockport.

“He reported in over the weekend that the fatigue had gone. There was no soreness. He had testing from the medical department on Monday and everything showed up fine.

“He trained on Monday with no issues whatsoever. And then probably only about 30 minutes into the session on Tuesday, he pulled up and just said, ‘No, something’s not right’.

“We've had that scanned and, because of his history with hamstrings, we're probably looking at ten weeks for that.

“So it's tough for Taylor, but it's also tough for us. And it's something that he's got to deal with.”

Ben Williams has joined United as left-sided cover and made his debut at GillinghamBen Williams has joined United as left-sided cover and made his debut at Gillingham (Image: Richard Parkes)

Simpson said bringing in another left-sided player had not been a priority, but he had to make a move after the double injury blow at a time another wing-back, Jack Robinson, remains sidelined.

He was delighted with Williams’ arrival and his performance at Gillingham, the 25-year-old's signing on a deal until January confirmed 90 minutes before kick-off.

“When Cameron and Taylor both dropped out of training on Tuesday, we realised that we had to do something, so we contacted him again,” said Simpson of the ex-Cheltenham Town and Barnsley man.

“He's been in other clubs, so we made enquiries with them, and they all said he'd done well.

“So we decided to do it, and thankfully he's agreed to come along. He seems a real good character.”