Mike Williamson says he must play it “smart” with his team selection tonight as Carlisle United face Wigan Athletic in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

The Blues’ squad has been badly hit by injuries as they prepare for their second group game (Brunton Park, 7pm).

While Williamson says the game is another important opportunity to impress, he is also mindful of the stretched nature of his squad at present.

He said that changes are likely and he is keen not to take undue risks on some of his senior players, with United’s league campaign in mind.

“We’ve just got to make sure we don’t take any risks,” said the head coach.

“We have to dust ourselves down from Saturday, assess that, see where we’re at, see where we want to improve – so we’ve got to put as strong a team out as possible but we want to look after the boys.

“So we have to be smart in what we do and we get as many bodies back for the weekend as we can.”

Williamson, after the 0-0 draw on Colchester United in League Two on Saturday, confirmed that Jordan Jones had become the latest senior player to join the injury list with a calf problem.

A host of other players remain ruled out as the Blues boss looks at his options tonight.

The Trophy's changed format since 2016 has delivered some of Brunton Park's lowest ever crowdsThe Trophy's changed format since 2016 has delivered some of Brunton Park's lowest ever crowds (Image: Richard Parkes)

Carlisle cannot afford defeat to Shaun Maloney’s League One visitors if they want to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the Trophy’s knockout stages.

It is a third home game for Williamson as he seeks a first positive result at Brunton Park.

“Of course, we want to get that feeling back,” he said.

“That is really important but we have to make sure we do it carefully and not risk any of the boys.

“We want to win games. It is important, another opportunity.

“It’s going to be a really tough test for us but we want to make sure that every game we go into, there’s a winning mentality that we breed, [and then] doesn’t matter what team we play, it gets to a point that, where we can have a bit of rotation in the league, we have quality coming in and it can sustain the standards we hold.”

Gabe Breeze, Jack Ellis and Jack Robinson are among the players who could come into things should Williamson make changes tonight.

Carlisle lost their Trophy opener 2-1 to Nottingham Forest’s Under-21s last month, with Wigan also beaten 2-1 by Morecambe in their first group game.

The Latics are unbeaten in their last six third-tier games and sit 15th in League One. Their squad includes winger Maleace Asamoah, son of former United favourite Derek, although he has been sidelined with an ankle injury recently.

This is the ninth season of the Trophy under its controversial format that includes Premier League Under-21 teams, and which has been boycotted by a number of fans.

Carlisle’s previous Trophy game drew an attendance of just 1,102. The lowest ever Brunton Park crowd came in this competition last season when 716 watched United’s 2-0 win over Harrogate Town.