Keith Millen said Joe Riley’s injury “doesn’t look very good” as the Carlisle United midfielder faces another possible lay-off.

Riley had to go off in the first half of his comeback game against Walsall after what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

The former Manchester United man had only just returned from a foot problem.

Now the luckless 24-year-old will be assessed again.

Riley tried to play on after suffering the injury but had to admit defeat in the 37th minute.

“Joe didn’t think it was too bad at the time and he wanted to carry on, which is testament to him, but it doesn’t look very good,” manager Millen said.

“I haven’t spoken to the physios yet but it’s the shoulder area, whether it’s popped out…I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see.

News and Star: Riley receives treatment before being substituted (photo: Barbara Abbott)Riley receives treatment before being substituted (photo: Barbara Abbott)

“There were a few people moaning [about what happened] – did someone run on the pitch and almost collide with Joe?

“I don’t know if it was a foul or an accident. Someone’s hit him and it’s around his shoulder area. I don’t know yet how bad. But he didn’t look good.”

Millen, meanwhile, said Brennan Dickenson is not expected to be sidelined for long after he missed Saturday’s victory.

“Brennan’s not too bad actually. We should see an improvement in him over the next few days,” the Blues boss said.

“He got a whack in the last game. We weren’t sure if it was just a contact injury or a strain of a muscle.

“It looks more like contact, so that, in the next couple of days, should settle down – so hopefully he might be available Tuesday [for the Papa John’s Trophy game against Lincoln].”