Last updated at 11:15, Sunday, 20 January 2013

Carlisle United boss Greg Abbott hopes a lack of fixture congestion can help him avoid another injury crisis in the second half of the season.

Greg Abbott

The Blues must fit another midweek game into their calendar after yesterday’s trip to Crawley was postponed.

But United, who are out of all the cups, do not have as packed a schedule as they have had in recent campaigns.

Abbott, who has been without key players at various stages this season, is looking on the bright side of having fewer games than normal.

“I would never say it’s a good thing to be out of the cups but one possible side-benefit, now that we are, is that there is more recovery time for players between matches,” he said.

Abbott is closer than ever to having a fully-fit squad, with Mike Edwards and Peter Murphy just over a week away from a return from hamstring and calf injuries.

With Chris Chantler winning his battle against recent ankle and heel problems, the United manager is hoping to have all his players back and available.

The Crawley game was called off at 10am on Friday due to a frozen pitch and snow at the Broadfield Stadium.

The decision was made early so that Abbott and his squad did not have to set off on their journey to Sussex, with roads at many points on the way having also been affected by heavy snow.

First published at 11:12, Sunday, 20 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk