Carlisle United manager Steven Pressley expects Hallam Hope to be available soon after treatment to a back problem.

The striker missed the opening-day win against Crawley after a hamstring injury with Pressley saying his absence was also connected to a nerve problem.

Hope may not be ready to return at Swindon this weekend but could be back in contention next week.

United’s boss said: “He [Hope] received an injection on Monday into his lower back.

"He’s reacted really positively to that and he’s trained the last couple of days, [albeit] not with us but on the grass with Dolly [physio Neil Dalton].

“The weekend might be too quick for him but certainly come Monday he’ll be ready, there’s no doubt about that.”

Hope, 25, has been out since late July after picking up the injury in training.

The ex-Bury and Everton frontman had been the subject of transfer speculation this summer amid interest from Blackpool.

There is currently, though, no sign of a departure for last season's 15-goal top scorer.