Last updated at 13:40, Tuesday, 21 July 2009

Hull City will send a host of their Premier League stars to Brunton Park tonight for Carlisle United’s first home pre-season friendly.

Hull boss Phil Brown

The Tigers, who narrowly survived in the top-flight last term, are splitting their first-team squad between tonight’s clash (kick-off 7.45pm) and a behind-closed-doors friendly against Doncaster this afternoon.

That guarantees that several of Phil Brown’s front-line players will be in action at Carlisle, with former England star Nick Barmby, Eire international Kevin Kilbane and Dutch veteran George Boateng among those who could feature against the Blues.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott – who last night allowed defender Josh Gowling to join Gillingham in a five-week loan move – will also field a full-strength XI against the club where he spent four seasons of his playing career.

“I expect Hull to take this game as a very serious part of their preparations,” said Abbott, who watched a young United side thrash Scottish part-timers Gala Fairydean 8-0 last night.

“It is the first really tough game for us since we have been back. Hull will provide real quality opposition for us.

“Our players have come back in very good shape and shown an excellent attitude, and this game will show us where we are in terms of our progress.”

Teenage striker Gary Madine could start tonight as he attempts to convince Abbott he is worth a first-team chance in the 2009/10 campaign, while there should be home debuts for new signings Lenny Pidgeley and Matty Robson.

Gowling, meanwhile, is unlikely to play for the Cumbrians again after joining newly-promoted Gillingham on loan.

He is behind Peter Murphy, Ian Harte, Richard Keogh, Tom Aldred and fit-again Danny Livesey in the pecking order for a centre-half place at Brunton Park.

“Josh has a better chance of getting games elsewhere and this isn’t an opportunity we could deny him,” said Abbott.

Entry tonight is £10/£5/£2 (seated) and £8/£4/£2 (standing).

• United have wiped £100,000 off their £1.5 million debt to former owner Fred Story after agreeing a sponsorship deal with Story Homes for the East Stand at Brunton Park.

The stand, formerly sponsored by the Cumberland Building Society, will be known as the Story Homes Stand for the next five years.

Blues chief executive David Allen said: “Besides the actual finance, this club owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Fred for what he did for Carlisle United while he was in charge.

“So it is great that Fred still remains firmly in support of the club, as is underlined by this new sponsorship deal.”

The Cumberland Building Society will now sponsor the A Stand, which will be renamed the Cumberland Community Stand.

First published at 11:30, Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk