John Sheridan said Carlisle United will arrange some friendlies to boost Jason Kennedy’s fitness after his emotional return to action yesterday.

The midfielder’s injury-time outing at Morecambe was his first game in 441 days after a long-term pelvis injury.

Kennedy, 32, was greeted with huge cheers by United’s big travelling support at the Globe Arena as he replaced goalscorer Jack Sowerby.

Manager Sheridan said: “He [Kennedy] is not ready for a game but I asked him if he wanted to go on for five minutes.

“It’s great for him to be involved and around the mix.

“We need to get a couple of games now for him.

“He’s training with the first-team, he’s with us, so it’s a case of arranging a couple of games to try and get him that match tempo.

“I felt I would let him get a feel of it - and with the crowd there, I knew he’d get a bit of a buzz with the reception he got.”

Kennedy’s previous first-team outing came as long ago as October 17, 2017 against Wycombe.