John Sheridan is looking forward to locking horns with one of his former players in the dug-out as Carlisle United visit League Two basement boys Macclesfield.

United will be back on the road tomorrow (Moss Rose, 3pm kick-off) when they aim to get a fourth straight league away victory against the winless Silkmen.

While the 11th-placed Blues have impressed on their travels yet struggled at home, the Cheshire side have claimed only four points from 13 league fixtures this season.

Macclesfield are also without a manager after they parted company with Mark Yates last Monday which has left Danny Whitaker, who played under Sheridan at Oldham from 2008-2010, and fellow joint assistant boss Neil Howarth in interim charge.

Blues boss Sheridan admits he likes 37-year-old Whitaker and expects Macclesfield to be "fighting for their lives".

"They are not winning games and they are bottom of the table. But they have been in games [and haven’t lost] by big margins," Sheridan said.

"They gave Lincoln, Forest Green and Tranmere hard games.

"I know Danny Whitaker who was an excellent player when he played under me. I have a lot of time for Danny.

"It’s new and a test for him. They are fighting for their lives and it’s going to be a tough game, and I know it is.

"But we are going there, knowing we have had some good results and performances away from home. But they are bottom of the league but easily could have had eight or nine points. It’s very tight."

Defender Anthony Gerrard will return from a one-match ban, while Hallam Hope is back from international duty and loanee Adam Campbell is also back in United’s ranks after missing Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Morecambe after he was not allowed to play against his parent club.

Sheridan, meanwhile, confirmed Cumbrian Danny Grainger and midfielder Jamie Devitt are back in training but will not be available this weekend.

"I don’t think Grainger and Devitt will be fit for tomorrow. But they are back running on the pitch," said Sheridan.

"We will go there with whoever we will pick."

Having trained with the first-team this week, Charlie Birch, son of Mark, looks likely to be included in the squad after impressing in the 3-2 Cumberland Cup win over Workington Reds at Penrith’s Frenchfield Park on Monday.

Carlisle’s youth team, meanwhile, visit Wrexham today.