Last updated at 11:47, Monday, 30 July 2012

Luckless striker Paddy Madden will have his ankle assessed today amid fears the Carlisle United striker faces another pre-season injury lay-off.

Paddy Madden

The Irish forward has missed the Blues’ last three friendlies and the problem is a worry for boss Greg Abbott with the new season less than two weeks away.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Madden now risks missing the start of the campaign for the second successive year after a broken foot ruined his start to 2011/12.

“We are going to have a look at Paddy’s ankle – he has got a slight problem with it,” said Abbott, who has injury concerns over other members of his squad.

“Dolly [physio Neil Dalton] will assess it and then decide where we go from there.”

Former Bohemians player Madden, 22, had hoped to use the Blues’ programme of pre-season games to push his case for a place in Abbott’s first-team for the first competitive game against Accrington in the Capital One Cup on Saturday week.

The Dubliner is now in a race against time to be fit for the 2012/13 opener as Abbott – who remains without Rory Loy – is left with limited attacking options.

United’s manager is giving Danny Cadamarteri several days’ rest this week in the hope that the hamstring niggle the new signing has picked up does not develop into anything serious.

The Blues boss said the problem is a “typical pre-season thing” and is confident Cadamarteri will not be sidelined.

Peter Murphy (shin) will also be checked today but JP McGovern (groin) is on the brink of a return to training.

First published at 11:24, Monday, 30 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk