Carlisle United's Georgie Kelly suffers fresh calf injury

The striker had to go off just 12 minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 3-0 defeat at MK Dons.

Manager Paul Simpson said the extent of the problem is yet to be determined but early signs were not promising.

It points to the prospect of another lay-off for a player whose seven-month spell at Brunton Park so far has been dogged by injuries.

“It’s massively frustrating, because as a physical specimen, he's a proper fit bloke and he tries to do things properly in how he trains and how he lives his life - but he's just picking up these niggles,” said Simpson.

“This looks a bad one as well, to be honest with you.

“He was warmed up, he was ready to go on, so what’s happened is hugely frustrating for him, because he's not been able to get his Carlisle United career started – and obviously it’s massively frustrating for us.

Sam Lavelle consoles Kelly as the striker leaves the pitch (Image: Richard Parkes)

“He had [a calf problem] at the start of his time with us, he had it in pre-season, then he had a groin problem early in the season.

“It’s something that we're just going to have to see what it's like next week. He's actually struggling to walk so it doesn't look particularly good.”

Kelly, who joined from Rotherham United on a three-and-a-half year deal on last winter’s deadline day, has been limited to just five starts and five sub appearances in that time.

The former Bohemians man’s start to life with the Cumbrians was affected by a calf problem which delayed his debut until April, while a calf issue in the close-season saw him miss some of United’s early friendlies and then he was affected by a minor groin problem in the first week of the campaign.

Simpson also said 27-year-old Kelly had been ill on Friday before declaring himself fit to travel, as he joined the squad in Milton Keynes on Saturday morning.

While Kelly will now be assessed, Terell Thomas looks set to return this week.

Terell Thomas is set to return to training this week after missing the MK trip (Image: Richard Parkes)

The defender did not travel with the squad to MK after a hamstring problem left him unable to train last week.

A scan, though, showed that the injury is not serious and the Saint Lucia international captain looks set to return to the reckoning ahead of next weekend’s home clash with Tranmere Rovers.

“He wasn't fit, he wasn't fit to travel,” Simpson said.

“My understanding was the plan was for him to do his first run on the grass [on Saturday], because we're expecting him to join in training with the rest of the group [this] week.”