Huddersfield v Carlisle preview
Huddersfield skipper Peter Clarke will return to contention for Friday night’s match at home.
Clarke missed the Boxing Day win over Chesterfield due to a one-game ban and manager Lee Clark must decide whether to recall him or retain Antony Kay alongside Alex Bruce in central defence.
Town could also be boosted by the return of winger Danny Ward, who missed out on Monday due to a knee injury, but defender Calum Woods remains sidelined after turning his ankle recently during training.
Fellow defender Liam Ridehalgh has been recalled early from his loan spell at Swindon and is expected to return to the squad, while Clark has no other new injury or suspension problems.
Goalkeeper Alex Smithies (knee) and midfielder Damien Johnson (hamstring) remain long-term absentees as fifth-placed Huddersfield look to keep pace with the top two.
Meanwhile, Carlisle will be without striker Rory Loy.
Loy broke his leg in the Boxing Day draw at Preston and is recovering in Royal Preston Hospital following surgery on Tuesday night.
Midfielder Liam Noble, on loan from Sunderland, replaced Loy at Preston, but striker Paddy Madden could come into contention with manager Greg Abbott to decide whether to retain Francois Zoko up front alongside Lee Miller.
Noble’s current loan spell will expire after the game at Sheffield United on January 2.
On-loan defender Christian Ribeiro is hoping to return to the starting XI in his penultimate game for the Cumbrians before returning to Bristol City, but Frank Simek has started the last two matches at full-back.
Manager Greg Abbott has no other new injury or suspension problems as Carlisle look to climb into the top six before the end of the year.