Manager Keith Curle insisted he would take no risks on Danny Grainger's fitness ahead of a busy run of games.

The captain missed Saturday's draw at Newport with a side strain, and will be assessed before tomorrow night's FA Cup second round replay against Gillingham.

Curle said the defender did not travel to south Wales as a precaution and was due for further work yesterday with physio Neil Dalton.

The Carlisle boss said: "He [Grainger] has been given some exercise routines, some gentle stretching, then it is a case of finding out if there is any reaction or irritation from that.

"Then it will be whether he is able to train or participate.

"We've got a lot of games coming up over the Christmas period.

"I know Tuesday is an important game but we showed [at Newport] that although we've got a small squad, we've still got qualities within that squad."

Tom Miller earned praise from Curle for his display after coming into the side for Grainger.

The ex-Lincoln man started on the left but then finished the game at right-back, also scoring United's third goal.

Curle said: "Tom has had to wait for his chance but he's shown a fantastic attitude and fantastic application.

"He has been keeping himself right not physically but mentally.

"He wants the opportunity to play, exactly the same as Jamie Devitt, Shaun Miller, John O'Sullivan and other players in the squad.

"They know that, as and when called upon, they’ve got to be right.

"The focus on Saturday is on the starting XI but throughout the week there is a lot of attention to the players not involved, keeping them in shape, and they’ve been excellent."