Carlisle v Walsall preview

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Carlisle midfielder James Berrett will return to contention for the home game against Walsall following suspension.

Berrett sat out last week’s 6-1 defeat at Preston due to his dismissal in the recent win against Swindon, but skipper Paul Thirlwell, Sean O’Hanlon and Pascal Chimbonda are all doubtful.

Midfielder Thirlwell and defender Chimbonda are both nursing calf injuries and centre-half O’Hanlon has a groin injury.

Striker Lee Miller (stomach muscle) and left-back Matty Robson (back) returned to action when stepping off the bench last week and are hoping for bigger roles as the Cumbrians bid to climb out of the bottom four.

Forward Milan Lalkovic could miss Walsall’s trip to Carlisle through injury.

Lalkovic sat out last weekend’s defeat to Bristol City with a hamstring problem, on the opposite leg to the one which forced him to miss games recently, and will be assessed ahead of kick-off.

Craig Westcarr will also watch from the sidelines once again as he completes his three-match ban.

Saddlers boss Dean Smith has no other selection issues and could hand teenager Amadou Bakayoko his full debut with only a top-half finish to fight for.

Carlisle v Walsall preview

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Carlisle pair Danny Livesey and Matty Robson are rated doubtful.

Central defender Livesey sustained a head wound in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with MK Dons and was eventually forced off in the second half.

Peter Murphy replaced him for his first appearance since the beginning of January and is expected to keep his place if Livesey is not ready to return.

Winger Robson, deployed at left-back in the absence of the injured Chris Chantler – who is sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle injury, missed out at the weekend due to a groin strain and is rated 50/50 by manager Greg Abbott.

Jordan Mustoe should continue following his arrival on loan from Wigan last week in time to make his full debut against MK Dons.

Fellow midfielder Brad Potts is pushing for a recall after being an unused substitute on Saturday due to a bruised shin.

Walsall will again assess Ben Purkiss ahead of their trip to Carlisle, with teenager Ben George once more on standby to deputise.

Purkiss, having struggled with a hamstring injury of late, travelled with the Saddlers for Saturday’s goalless draw at Brentford but failed a late fitness test.

With James Chambers also missing out at Griffin Park due to an ankle problem, the right-back berth was handed to debutant George, who duly impressed.

Chambers will again sit out against the Cumbrians and should Purkiss not make it then George will be called on for his second start in four days.

The versatile Richard Taundry is expected to return to training next week following his ankle complaint.

Walsall have only lost two of their last 13 games but have now drifted nine points off the play-off places.

Carlisle v Walsall preview

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Carlisle’s new loan signing Jordan Cook is expected to go straight into manager Greg Abbott’s plans.

Striker Cook, 21, joined the Cumbrians on loan from Sunderland on Monday and is likely to start on the bench, with in-form Francois Zoko resuming up front alongside Lee Miller.

Abbott has no new injury or suspension problems as his side look to climb into the top six.

Midfielder Chris Chantler, a recent permanent signing from Manchester City, is pushing for his first start after making his debut as a substitute last time out against Leyton Orient.

Winger Andy Welsh was an unused substitute in that game after a three-month lay-off due to a calf injury and is also hoping to feature.

Defender Stephen O’Halloran (knee) and strikers Rory Loy (broken leg) and Craig Curran (knee) remain long-term absentees as Abbott’s side look to extend their unbeaten league run to eight matches.

Walsall boast a fully-fit squad.

Defender Olly Lancashire (hamstring) and midfielder Kevan Hurst (heel) both played for the reserves in midweek as they gained vital minutes in their respective recoveries, and both will be available if required by manager Dean Smith.

Otherwise, the Saddlers boss has no new injury or suspension concerns for the long trip north to Brunton Park, where the Cumbrians are unbeaten in eight games since mid-September.

Forward Alex Nicholls, 24, is in line to make his 200th senior appearance for Walsall.

The Midlands club have drawn seven of their previous 10 matches, losing two and winning one, to currently sit just outside the drop zone on goal difference.

Carlisle v Walsall preview

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Carlisle striker Rory Loy is pushing for his first start for the Cumbrians in the game.

Loy, a permanent signing from Rangers, stepped off the substitutes’ bench for his debut midway through the second half of the midweek defeat at Huddersfield.

Manager Greg Abbott has no new injury or suspension worries and is unlikely to make too many changes, but midfielder Liam Noble, on loan from Sunderland, and winger Matty Robson are also hoping for more prominent roles.

Striker Paddy Madden, signed this week from Bohemians for an undisclosed fee, will not be fully fit for another fortnight and is not expected to be involved.

The Cumbrians have lost only one of their last five league games and are eight points adrift of the play-offs in 11th place.

Walsall’s Jason Price is ineligible to face parent club Carlisle due to the terms of his loan.

The forward linked up with the Saddlers on an initial month-long deal last Friday and enjoyed an immediate goalscoring debut having been credited with the final goal in the 6-1 romp over Bristol Rovers.

Price also started Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Notts County but Saddlers boss Dean Smith will have to shuffle his forward line at Brunton Park.

On-loan midfielder Matt Gill was taken off at half-time at Meadow Lane when struggling with a sickness bug but should be okay for Saturday.

That just leaves striker Darren Byfield on the sidelines with his long-term knee injury. The Walsall captain is set for another appointment with a specialist but appears unlikely to be making his long-awaited return any time soon having originally targeted a late January comeback.