Carlisle v MK Dons preview

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Carlisle’s teenage loan signing Michael Drennan is hoping to make his first start for the club.

Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Drennan stepped off the substitutes’ bench in the weekend defeat to Colchester after arriving from Aston Villa in a month-long deal last week.

Defenders Conor Townsend (foot) and Chris Chantler (ankle) remain sidelined, while the Cumbrians will also be without influential centre-half Max Ehmer, who has been recalled by parent club QPR.

Boss Graham Kavanagh is short on defenders as Danny Livesey is struggling with a calf injury, while midfielder Paul Thirlwell is still out with a similar problem. Carlisle have lost five of their last six matches.

MK Dons boss Karl Robinson hopes teenager Dele Alli is fit for the trip.

Alli came off in the Dons’ last game six days ago at Crewe after complaining of a tight calf. The 17-year-old’s withdrawal was a precautionary measure and there is a strong chance that he will have recovered in time for Tuesday night’s game.

The Milton Keynes club are in talks with West Ham about bringing Jordan Spence back on loan to fill the void left by Shaun Williams’ departure to Millwall.

If Robinson does not do a deal for Spence in time then Tom Flanagan will step in at centre-half.

Carlisle v MK Dons preview

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Carlisle could hand a debut to Jordan Mustoe.

The 22-year-old defender joined from Wigan on loan until the end of the season and goes straight into contention.

But the Blues are without Brad Potts, who suffered a badly-bruised shin in a Cumberland Cup match in midweek.

The 18-year-old has been a regular fixture for the Cumbrians this season but faces a spell on the sidelines following a clash with Carlisle City’s Sean Bannon.

Abbott has no other injury or suspension worries but could shuffle his pack after last weekend’s draw at Portsmouth as they look to extend their five-match unbeaten run at Brunton Park.

Defender Sean O’Hanlon is in line to face his former club for the first time while midfielder David Symington is pushing for inclusion.

MK Dons must do without the suspended Alan Smith in their ranks.

Smith will begin a four-match ban at the weekend following his red card in the FA Cup defeat to Barnsley last Saturday.

However, fellow forward Ryan Lowe and defender Antony Kay come back into the squad after completing their respective suspensions.

Manager Karl Robinson, who lost his chief scout Alex Rae to former Dons boss Paul Ince at Blackpool this week, will also have Izale McLeod available again after the striker was cup-tied against the Tykes.

However, forward Dean Bowditch is out with a groin injury and joins midfielder Stephen Gleeson on the sidelines as he continues his recovery from a broken foot.

Carlisle v MK Dons preview

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Carlisle boss Greg Abbott is set to make changes to his squad after a shock Carling Cup defeat.

Abbott admitted the 2-0 defeat against Aldershot was a “big disappointment” but he can recall several players who were unavailable for that match.

Middlesbrough loanee Lee Miller, who scored both goals in the 2-1 league win over Leyton Orient, was cup-tied for the Shots clash and should regain his place in attack.

James Tavernier was refused permission to play by parent club Newcastle but he is also likely to return, while fellow defender Lubo Michalik is still away on international duty with Slovakia.

A back injury looks set to sideline defender Peter Murphy once more and Frankie Simek is a long-term absentee.

Meanwhile New signings Mark Beevers and Anthony McNamee will go straight into the MK Dons squad.

Beevers has joined on-loan from League One rivals Sheffield Wednesday until the end of December and could go straight into the starting XI alongside Gary MacKenzie at the heart of the defence with Shaun Williams suspended.

Williams was sent off during the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat to Brentford on Tuesday night. Jay O’Shea sustained an ankle injury during that game and is also ruled out.

Angelo Balanta is another who will not travel as he continues to nurse a muscle strain but Jabo Ibehre is expected to be back after missing the last two games with his muscle problem.

McNamee is likely to be on the bench along with youth goalkeeper Louis Bragg, who is set to come into the squad with Ian McLoughlin away on international duty.