Carlisle United selection "headaches" for Salford City trip

The Blues return to league action tomorrow with their televised early kick-off at the Peninsula Stadium.

And head coach Williamson says he has some big calls to make when it comes to his starting XI – though he’s giving nothing away just yet.

One of the key decisions will be whether to give Gabe Breeze a start in the league ahead of Harry Lewis, the young Cumbrian having impressed against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup last weekend.

Asked if he was settled in his mind on his side to face Karl Robinson’s Ammies, including the keeper decision, Williamson said: “I'm not going to give anything away now.

“Obviously, people get their opportunities and when they take them it causes selection headaches.

“We had a good day's training [on Wednesday], 11 v 11, and lots of little things go into selection.

“It is going to be a headache for me, but again it's about the players just being ready to come on and make an impact in whatever role they're given.”

• LISTEN: Williamson on Salford, injuries, suspension, signings and more

Williamson will have to make at least one enforced change, with Ethan Robson starting a three-game suspension. Callum Guy could return to the XI, while Harrison Biggins could be another midfield option should he return to the squad after injury.

United, backed by a sell-out away support, take on a Salford side in good form after five games unbeaten in all competitions, eight points from their last four league games and a position of 12th after 14 League Two fixtures. Ex-Blues striker Cole Stockton is in their ranks while former Carlisle defender James Chester has been out injured since August.

“I've already been there and it was a difficult night in front of the cameras [when Williamson’s MK Dons lost 1-0 at Salford in September] – and Karl's an experienced manager who knows how to put successful teams together,” added the Blues head coach.

Salford's squad includes former Carlisle striker Cole Stockton, right (Image: PA)

“He's got a good track record of that and he creates an energy and a spirit in them.

“They've obviously got good players, they've got experienced players but they just want to get the ball down the sides in one-v-one situations and then they want to load the box, and they've got goals all over the pitch.

“We know how tough it's going to be. But again, we just focus on our week's training, the detail that we need to make sure we're on point with contacting the box, keeping them away from our goal and defending one-v-one situations and then when we get the ball, how we hurt them.

“So, that's been the focus this week and we've got to make sure it carries over.”

Williamson said building on the good aspects United showed in taking League One side Wigan to extra-time has been the priority this week.

“Our focus has been exactly the same as last week – we wanted a really tough week in terms of concentration, in terms of physical load, and we wanted to double down on the detail in the 11 v 11s and in our game model.

“That's essentially what we've done and we've had another good week.

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“The last full week we had was leading up to Harrogate, and we felt like we got the performance there [in a 1-1 draw]. I think the boys are obviously in better spirits in general, but the focus has just been on making sure that we're improving.

“It’s about focusing on what we thought we did well and to cement the detail in terms of the distances and the tactical support we can give them that helped us create such a hard-to-beat, resilient performance [against Wigan].

Callum Guy, second left, is a contender to come back into the side for the suspended Ethan Robson (Image: Ben Holmes)

“Then it's up to the boys to go out there and give everything they possibly can and make sure that we get to those levels of fight and personality and character, and then make sure we convert that performance into points.”

Saturday’s game kicks off at 12.30pm for live Sky Sports+ coverage, but Williamson says this makes little difference to United’s preparation schedule.

“Friday is very light anyway,” he said. “We try and get our working days in Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and then off on a Thursday.

“We'll have a very light walk-through on Friday and then we'll travel. So, it doesn't change any of the preparation.

“We get down there and we'll be in a hotel and it's on both teams then – getting up in the morning, getting that preparation done and getting right for the game.”