Chris Beech hopes his Carlisle United side will have recovered from their cup exertions in time to be at their best at Oldham today.

Beech’s squad, which could include this week’s new signings Joshua Kayode and Nick Anderton, face the Latics in a big game towards the foot of League Two (Boundary Park, 3pm).

Carlisle could give their survival hopes a significant boost with victory.

Head coach Beech says it is essential his side show they have come through the rigours of Wednesday’s FA Cup replay, when they pushed Cardiff all the way in a 4-3 defeat.

He said: “This game is a completely different kettle of fish.

“What you’ve got to be mindful of is the efforts and psychology that went into that football match [on Wednesday], and then the players had to recover in 48 hours to go to Oldham.

“We’ve added to the squad, but it is relatively a small squad.

“I watched Blackpool-Reading on Tuesday and Reading made eight or nine changes, possible more. I can’t do that, so it’s up to the players to make sure they’re professional and ready to go again, because it’s vital we turn up and represent those [positive] traits again.”

Beech will have to judge whether all those who started against Cardiff in an impressive display are fully ready to take on Dino Maamria’s Latics.

If he looks to change his side, it could give immediate opportunities to new left-back Anderton and loan striker Kayode, who is awaiting his Football League debut.

United are understood to be still in the market for more additions, including up front, as Beech plots a way up the League Two table.

The head coach has Aaron Hayden available with the defender back from suspension, Hayden having also this week signed a new 18-month deal. Max Hunt, cup-tied on Wednesday, also rejoins the squad.

While the fourth-bottom Cumbrians – six points above the relegation place – are seeking only their second league win in nine, their hosts are winless in five.

Beech believes that, despite some recent setbacks in the league, his players are heading in the right direction.

Asked about the challenge of continuing Wednesday’s better signs in the bread-and-butter of the league, he said: “A hundred per cent. And they will. And they have been. They really have.

“We’ve obviously had three league defeats in [my] time but I think they’re doing it, it’s just a case of putting it together, a case of making sure that will to win is evident in everything that they are.

“To be honest, with the response to the setback of last Saturday [the 3-0 defeat to Plymouth], the honesty and hard work they used [against Cardiff], you can’t do anything but say, ‘well done’, and then it’s a case of recovering as well as we can to make sure we’re full-tilt at Oldham.”

Beech admitted, though, that he could not give any guarantees about whether United could repeat Wednesday night’s intensity.

“We’ll see,” he said. “It’s a question I can’t answer until we’re there.

“We will prepare to do it but you never know, that’s the great sport we work in – it’s so unpredictable, unless you’ve got Man City’s budget and it’s pretty controllable.”