Cameron Harper and Dylan McGeouch could both bolster Carlisle United’s options for the Tranmere Rovers game as they return to full training this week.

The Scottish duo are poised to come back into the mix after spells on the sidelines with injury.

Harper, out since the eve of the season with a groin strain, will provide fresh competition at left wing-back.

And McGeouch, who has been missing since the latter stages of pre-season with a groin problem, is set to add to Paul Simpson’s midfield options.

United’s manager said that, should all go to plan, they will join in full training later this week as they bid to return to contention for Saturday’s clash with Tranmere at Brunton Park.

Simpson said the pair were due to be signed off from their rehabilitation yesterday. “Then they’ll join in training by the end of the week,” the manager said.

“They've done about two-and-a-half, three weeks of a normal training load week that we try to get them to.

“Again, they had a session on Saturday, so if there are no issues from that, then hopefully they'll be able to join in training with the rest of the group [this] week.”

If the pair do not make it back into the squad for the Tranmere game, a likely return would come against Nottingham Forest’s Under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy three days later.

Another player back in the mix is set to be Terell Thomas, who missed the 3-0 defeat at MK Dons with a hamstring problem but is also due to return this week.

The return of the recently-sidelined players will ease Simpson’s injury concerns ahead of another important game.

United, though, are checking on the seriousness of Georgie Kelly’s latest calf injury which forced the substitute off at Stadium MK.

The striker was struggling to walk after the game amid fears of another lay-off for the ex-Rotherham United man.