Swindon v Carlisle preview

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Swindon will be without full-back Nathan Byrne when they host Carlisle.

The defender was dismissed late on in their goalless draw with Crawley on Tuesday night and he will now serve a two-match ban.

Former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger has returned to training with his team-mates but is lacking match sharpness and seems unlikely to start although he could be included in the matchday squad if he proves his fitness.

Mark Cooper’s men are currently eighth in League One and have lost just twice at home in the league this season.

Carlisle could hand debuts to three new loan signings when they make the trip to Swindon.

Midfielder Craig Roddan, left-back Josh Morris and striker Tom Lawrence arrived on deals from Liverpool, Blackburn and Manchester United respectively on Thursday.

On-loan defender Conor Townsend returns to contention for the final game of his loan spell before returning to Hull having missed the midweek win against Crewe due to a one-game ban.

Midfielder Paul Thirlwell is struggling with an Achilles problem that forced him off in midweek but is hoping to be fit, while replacement Prince Buaben is pushing for a recall following illness.

Swindon v Carlisle preview

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Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio could reward striker James Collins with a place in his starting line-up after the former Aston Villa man came off the bench to score four times against Portsmouth.

Collins netted with his first touch in the 61st minute and scored another three in 21 second-half minutes to help the Robins to an emphatic 5-0 win.

He replaced Chris Martin on the hour mark and could get the nod over the Norwich loanee against the Cumbrians.

Left-back Jay McEveley is two weeks ahead of schedule as he recovers from knee surgery and could return as soon as January 19 while Miles Storey (knee) remains sidelined.

Swindon have won their last two games 5-0 and now sit in fifth place in npower League One.

Carlisle skipper Paul Thirlwell will have a scan to determine the full extent of his troublesome calf injury and will miss the clash at Swindon.

Thirlwell sat out all of November and although he returned at the start of December, the midfielder limped out of the Boxing Day win over Hartlepool and has been sidelined since.

Fellow midfielder James Berrett recently returned from a groin injury and played the full 90 minutes in the New Year’s Day defeat at Crewe despite struggling with a virus.

Forward Paddy Madden made his loan move to Yeovil a permanent one this week and fellow striker Danny Cadamarteri remains doubtful with the calf injury that has kept him out of the last three matches.

Rory Loy is pushing for his first start since recently returning from a broken leg and manager Greg Abbott could be tempted to make changes to his back four, with Peter Murphy pushing for a recall.

Swindon v Carlisle preview

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Swindon are hoping to have Lescinel Jean-Francois in their ranks.

The defender missed last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Colchester and was due to sit out Tuesday’s postponed clash at Exeter to be with his heavily pregnant partner.

Town will assess the situation as late as possible ahead of this weekend but Jean-Francois is tipped to be involved.

Manager Danny Wilson will, however, still be without striker Vincent Pericard (knee), winger Alan O’Brien (hamstring) and defender Milan Misun (knee).

The Robins, winless in nine, are desperate for three points against a Carlisle side boosted by Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at Oldham following a run of four successive defeats themselves.

Swindon have lost just one of their previous 16 meetings with the Cumbrians, that coming in December 2007.

Carlisle defender Gary Borrowdale will return to the squad following suspension.

Borrowdale, a recent loan signing from QPR, was sent off for two yellow card offences on his debut for the Cumbrians in last weekend’s defeat at Southampton.

Winger Matty Robson filled in for the midweek win at Oldham, but Borrowdale is expected to step back in.

Cumbrians manager Greg Abbott has no other new injury or suspension worries, but skipper Paul Thirlwell remains sidelined due to a calf injury which has kept him out of the last four matches.

Loan pair Liam Cooper, from Hull, and fellow defender Joe Dudgeon, from Manchester United, remain sidelined due to hand and knee injuries respectively, while Sean McDaid has been ruled out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage.