Last updated at 11:31, Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Matty Robson is set to miss Carlisle United’s FA Cup clash with Ebbsfleet as worried boss Greg Abbott reels from a new four-man injury blow.

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The winger has joined a mounting injury list at Brunton Park which has also left Chris Chantler and Peter Murphy doubtful for the cup test.

And with captain Paul Thirlwell also certain to miss the home tie, which United are under massive pressure to win, it leaves manager Abbott down to the bare bones.

“I’m going to go home, get on the prayer mat and hope to God that Matty is back soon,” Abbott said.

“He came in on Monday morning and actually went down before we had started warming up.

“His back had locked and he couldn’t move a muscle.”

Abbott insisted the wide man’s injury is not as serious as the similar complaint which kept him out for three months last season.

But the Blues boss is desperate for good news when in-form Robson sees a specialist today.

Skipper Thirlwell has eased fears of a long lay-off after an MRI scan showed no break on his right ankle, but the midfielder is still set to be out for around two weeks.

And defenders Chantler (heel) and Murphy (hamstring) have yet to train this week and will undergo treatment from physio Neil Dalton today in the hope they will be fit for Ebbsfleet’s visit.

Abbott admitted he would be forced into the loan market if he is deprived of too many key men for a tie which cash-strapped Carlisle cannot afford to lose.

“We have nowhere to go in terms of the squad with injuries to key players,” Abbott said. “We are in a tough situation and this is going to be one hell of a tough weekend for us.

“Dolly is working overtime to get some of these players back on the training field.

“We have to wait and see if what we have got left, in a couple of days, will be good enough to get us through Saturday and next Tuesday at Preston.

“We certainly haven’t got lashings of money to throw about but the board don’t like the situation any more than I do.

“I’ve had a couple of encouraging conversations that might lead to something with certain clubs and players.”

Striker Rory Loy and winger JP McGovern are back in training but need to build up their match fitness before Abbott can consider them for selection. Striker Lee Miller could still be two months away from availability.

United’s boss has demanded a massive improvement from his team in order to ease the pressure on the club after a string of poor displays.

Abbott also apologised to fans for missing his post-match media duties after last weekend’s 4-2 loss to Bournemouth, claiming he spent nearly an hour reading the riot act to his players in the dressing room.

YEOVIL’S hopes of signing Carlisle striker Paddy Madden could be boosted after Abbott revealed talks between the two clubs are now at boardroom level.

Abbott had initially indicated that the Irish striker was set to return to United after a prolific loan spell in Somerset.

But he said: “Conversations are going on between the two clubs and Paddy. It’s not cut and dried.

“John [Nixon, managing director] is talking to Yeovil and we will try and make the right decision.

“It’s not a straightforward one and there are a lot of things to take into account.”

First published at 11:05, Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk