Last updated at 10:52, Friday, 05 September 2008

Crocked midfielder Chris Lumsdon has spoken of his fears for his future at Carlisle United as he recovers from the worst injury of his career.

Dougie Freedman

Lumsdon is sidelined until November with a back injury and the 28-year-old – out of contract next July – worries that competition for places is now so intense that he may not get back in the side this season.

The former Sunderland and Barnsley man will again be a frustrated observer at Brunton Park tomorrow when United tackle Southend (kick-off 3pm).

“You think you might not get another game because the lads are doing so well,” Lumsdon told The Cumberland News. “The competition is so strong now and that’s a good thing, because it makes everyone play that much better. But it does mean you’ve got less chance of getting back in the team if the lads are up there in the league.

“I’m out of contract at the end of the season so it’s a bit worrying that way.”

Lumsdon said personal tragedies this summer – the deaths of his uncle Paul Viggor and Kelly Gourlay, girlfriend of team-mate Peter Murphy – have put his own misfortune in perspective.

“I wouldn’t have coped that well with it if I was younger,” he said. “But the things that happened over the summer make you realise you’ve got no right to moan. There are worse things happening in the world.”

The influential player, who has been at United since 2004, revealed the bizarre sequence of events which followed him suffering the injury which would rule him out of the first three months of Carlisle’s season.

“Usually whenever I got this pain at the top of my right leg, a massage would sort it out,” he said. “I came on in the friendly against Partick Thistle and it felt all right, but then suddenly it just went and I had to lie down on the bus home. I got home and into bed, but then at five in the morning I couldn’t move. I had to ring my mam and dad to come and get me, but I had left the key in the door so they had to break in.

“Then we got the emergency doctor in, but he put the injection in the wrong side so I was still in pain all day.”

After a session with United’s sports masseur Faz Page, Lumsdon attempted to train but pulled up again.

A scan revealed the extent of the injury, which required an injection and then a three-month lay-off.

“I don’t like needles at the best of times, but when the nurse started holding my hand, I knew I was in massive trouble,” he said. “This is the worst injury of my career. Six weeks is the longest I’ve been out for. The worst thing is not being able to run. All I can do until the pain goes is a bit of core work and swimming. It’s no substitute.

“I’m not setting any comeback targets. If I do that now and I feel I’m not getting there, I’ll go mad. As soon as the pain goes, I’ll have another six weeks and I’ll do another pre-season. There will be plenty of reserve games and hopefully once I’m fit I’ll get my chance. But that’s a long way off.”

Manager John Ward has plenty of midfield options in Lumsdon’s absence – captain Paul Thirlwell and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson are his current first-choice picks, with Grant Smith and Luke Joyce pushing for a call-up.

Former Manchester United and West Brom man Ronnie Wallwork could also come into the reckoning if he impresses in the coming weeks. The 30-year-old free agent, who played for Carlisle’s reserves in their 4-1 win at Hartlepool on Wednesday, is likely to stay with Ward’s squad as he bids to boost his fitness and earn a contract at Brunton Park.

“I’m pleased for Thir, because he was injured for most of last year and I know what it’s like when you feel on the outside of things,” added Lumsdon. “The lads have been good – they haven’t been taking the mick because they know it’s a pretty bad time for me. And supporters have been sending me messages, which I appreciate.

“I’ve managed to get to the home games and I think I was the loudest one in the viewing box last week when Danny Graham got his hat-trick against Yeovil. I made so much noise I probably won’t be allowed back in there.”

United’s youth team are at Preston tomorrow morning (kick-off 10.30am) after last weekend’s 12-0 thumping of Gillford Park’s under-18s, when striker Andy Cook scored five.

Tickets for United's home clash with Leeds on September 20 go on sale at Brunton Park immediately after tomorrow's match.

Leicester's former Carlisle boss Nigel Pearson was yesterday named League One manager of the month for August, pipping John Ward, Oldham's John Sheridan and Brighton's Mickey Adams.

First published at 11:51, Thursday, 04 September 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk