Carlisle United have earmarked a reserve cup final for a possible first outing for new signing Morgan Feeney.

The defender has faced a luckless start to his Blues career after suffering a broken foot in training soon after his January move.

Former Everton and Sunderland man Feeney remains on the comeback trail.

And head coach Chris Beech hopes United’s forthcoming Central League Cup final against Bournemouth could be an opportunity for the 22-year-old.

A date is yet to be set for the second-string final. Beech said: “It’s at St George’s Park, and I think Sarah [McKnight, club secretary] is having a word with Gav [Skelton, assistant boss] about looking at doing it later in the year, and hopefully Morgan can play in that.

“Without speaking to Ross [Goodwin, physio], I think he [Feeney] is maybe a couple of weeks away, or maybe a bit longer.

“He’s a great lad, his attitude’s very good, his rehab’s been clean, he’s getting on with it.

“I know we’ve signed him to be involved and play, like we have everybody, but he’s not there yet – but he will be soon, hopefully.”

Beech is also monitoring Danny Devine’s progress in training as the midfielder hopes to get closer to a first-team return.

Devine featured in last week’s 3-2 reserve win over Huddersfield in the Central League Cup area final.

Beech, though, said the ex-Bradford an was not quite ready yet for senior action.

“I do this little tackle-bag thing in training and Danny was involved in that in midfield – tackling, getting up, regain, retain the ball, getting a shot on goal,” Beech said.

“He was icing his knee after it. He’s fine, but you have to take the player through the next stage of that.

“He’s fit, he played in a reserve game but he wasn’t quite right for [Tuesday night].”

It is not yet clear if Joshua Kayode will be fit to return for Saturday’s trip to Southend.

The loan striker is on the way back from an ankle injury and has missed United’s last seven games.

He has been joined on the sidelines by Brennan Dickenson and Rhys Bennett, whose respective knee injuries are likely to keep them out for the rest of the season.