MK Dons v Carlisle preview

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MK Dons have mounting problems ahead of Carlisle’s visit to Milton Keynes.

Goalkeeper David Martin and midfielder Stephen Gleeson both suffered calf injuries during the home win over Rotherham on Saturday and are new absentees, along with defender Shaun Williams who serves a one-match ban after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against the Millers.

Jason Banton is also a concern after sustaining a knock at the weekend while fellow winger Luke Chadwick remains a doubt with the problem that ruled him out against Rotherham.

Dons boss Karl Robinson is already without Antony Kay (hip), Dean Bowditch (hip) and Dele Alli (ankle).

Carlisle will be without suspended midfielder James Berrett at MK Dons and could turn to teenager Brad Potts in his absence.

Berrett received his fifth booking of the season in the weekend defeat at Oldham and sits out a one-game ban, so Potts could return to the starting line-up.

Striker Lee Miller (calf) returned as a second-half substitute on Saturday after a month on the sidelines, but is not expected to be included from the start.

Blackpool loanee Nathan Eccleston began on the bench at Oldham and is hoping to make his first league start for the club, while Pascal Chimbonda is expected to resume at right-back after making his debut at the weekend.

MK Dons v Carlisle preview

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Stephen Gleeson is expected to retain the MK Dons captaincy in place of the suspended Dean Lewington this weekend.

Gleeson, who started the Capital One Cup victory over Blackburn in midweek following a three-match suspension of his own, will make his first league appearance of the season on Saturday.

Lewington will serve the second game of his three-match ban while Alan Smith will complete his three-game suspension.

Antony Kay is available after a three-match ban while fellow defender Mathias Kouo-Doumbe resumed training on Thursday after a month on the sidelines with a knee injury but the game could come too soon for the Frenchman.

New signing Jimmy Bullard is expected to be named in the squad, although it is unlikely the midfielder will start.

Meanwhile, Carlisle boss Greg Abbott will be without Danny Livesey after the defender suffered a hamstring injury in training on Monday.

Livesey missed the Capital One Cup victory over Ipswich and could be out for a further three weeks.

The Cumbrians continue to be without Lee Miller, who is sidelined with an ankle injury that could keep him out for the next few weeks and Rory Loy, who is still continuing his recovery from a broken leg.

Birmingham loanee Jake Jervis will return to the squad after being cup-tied for the Ipswich clash on Tuesday.

After making three changes against the Tractor Boys, Abbott may choose to re-shuffle his pack once more on Saturday.

MK Dons v Carlisle preview

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MK Dons have no new problems ahead of this fixture.

Manager Karl Robinson only has the usual post-match bumps and bruises to his players to contend with following the disappointment of the 1-1 draw at rivals Wycombe on Saturday, which saw the return from suspension of midfielder Stephen Gleeson.

Defenders Gary MacKenzie and James Tavernier will remain on the sidelines with neck and knee problems respectively.

Midfielder Luke Chadwick and strikers Dean Bowditch and Jabo Ibehre will be hoping to force their way back into Robinson’s thinking and earn recalls to the starting line-up.

Teenage forward Robert Hall will hope to be involved after making just one substitute appearance since joining the Dons from West Ham almost a fortnight ago.

Meanwhile, Carlisle manager Greg Abbott is expected to choose his side for the match from an unchanged squad.

Abbott has no new injury or suspension worries and is not expected to make any changes as his side bid to extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

Skipper Paul Thirlwell, who has missed the last seven matches due to a calf injury, and left-back Matty Robson, sidelined since early January with back trouble, are both still unavailable.

Both players could give the Cumbrians’ play-off push a boost by returning to contention for next Saturday’s home game with Huddersfield.

Abbott is likely to retain Danny Livesey alongside Peter Murphy in central defence, with Lubo Michalik again on the substitutes’ bench, while striker Jordan Cook is pushing for a start after extending his loan spell for a second time last week.

MK Dons v Carlisle preview

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MK Dons striker Sam Baldock will face a late fitness test.

Baldock was nominated for player of the month for March after he scored five goals in five games but turned his ankle after scoring in the 3-2 defeat at Southampton last weekend and came off.

Central defender Gary MacKenzie also scored in that game but is out with an ankle injury of his own.

On-loan QPR forward Angelo Balanta is fit after being sidelined since November with an ankle injury and is pushing for a starting place.

Fellow loanee Keanu Marsh-Brown has returned to fitness following a groin injury but is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.

Carlisle striker Francois Zoko is a major doubt.

Zoko picked up a calf injury in Sunday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final victory over Brentford and will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness.

On-loan Stoke winger Ben Marshall is definitely missing after sustaining ankle ligament damage against the Bees and is likely to be out for the rest of the season.

Patrick Madden could be handed his first start for the club but faces competition from fellow young forward Rory Loy and on-loan Sunderland midfielder Liam Noble.

Fit-again defender Danny Livesey (hamstring), teenage winger Ben McKenna and Bermudan striker Nakhi Wells could also be added to the squad after putting in eye-catching performances in the midweek Cumberland Cup win against Gillford Park.

Centre-back Liam Cooper is unavailable after he returned to Hull following the expiration of his 28-day loan spell at Brunton Park.