Callum Guy’s injury is not as bad as Carlisle United had feared and the midfielder could return before the end of the season.

Head coach Chris Beech said the January signing had suffered a medial ligament injury in last Tuesday’s defeat to Cheltenham.

Guy was stretchered off but Beech said he was relieved the injury, suffered in a challenge with the Robins’ Will Boyle, had not been worse.

Beech said: “Callum’s going to miss a bit of time – he’s got a medial strain, but I think that’s quite good news considering, watching back, that tackle, because he did go in fully-fledged, fully-bodied, and Callum was on a no-win situation at that point.

“I’m thankful it wasn’t a cruciate or a nine-month injury; I’m hopeful we will see him back playing before the end of the season.”

Beech added that the type of injury Guy had suffered often comes with a four-to-eight week timescale.

He added: “He’s still got to see a surgeon for advice, so it might not be quite as clear cut as we’re talking, but hopefully that meeting will go well.

“Following that meeting, it’s just down to good physio, good habits, good sleep, good food, good rehab.”

Beech, meanwhile, expects Harry McKirdy to return to training on Tuesday after his recent lay-off.

On Joshua Kayode, meanwhile, the Blues boss said: “He is running, which is good, taking injections which is good, some sort of mixing of blood and all sorts, I don’t know what it is.

“He’s doing the right things to get back quick.”