Paul Simpson hopes dad-to-be Omari Patrick will be in Carlisle United’s squad to face Crawley Town in the new season opener.

But he won’t hesitate to allow the forward to miss the game if needed.

Patrick’s partner is due to give birth to their daughter soon but manager Simpson said the 26-year-old will get the time he needs if things take longer.

“We’ve got a lovely situation for Omari where his partner’s due any day now,” said Simpson.

“We really hope she hangs on until after Saturday night but I know it’s not quite as simple as that…

“My second son was born at 2.55pm on a Saturday afternoon. They [babies] aren't considerate when it comes to that so we just have to wait and see…”

Asked if Patrick would be allowed to miss the Crawley game if needs be, Simpson said: “It’s not even a question. I wasn’t allowed to go to the birth of my second son and it’s the only regret I’ve got in football. If Omari’s partner goes into labour, he can go.”

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Simpson, meanwhile, has said United have been hit by a couple of late injury blows in the build-up to the opening game.

He did not reveal which players have been sidelined.

But he confirmed that they were not Ryan Edmondson or Brennan Dickenson, who were last weekend’s injury concerns.

Edmondson has overcome a hip/thigh issue, with Dickenson training again after a dead leg.

News and Star: Ryan Edmondson (photo: Barbara Abbott)Ryan Edmondson (photo: Barbara Abbott)

“Ryan Edmondson has trained on Thursday and Friday, and I would expect him to be a part of it,” the United boss said.

“Brennan Dickenson ran on Monday, trained Tuesday, trained today [Thursday], so hopefully he’ll be available.

“It’s a couple of other things that have come up. We’ve had a couple of injuries – I apologise to everybody, I am not going to name names.

“It will be very clear on Saturday afternoon when the 18 are selected who they are. I’m not going to make Crawley’s match preparation easier by saying who it is.”

Simpson, though, said he remained happy with the players he has available for the curtain-raiser at Brunton Park.

“My whole philosophy now and mindset is not worrying about what we can’t have and haven’t got, it’s concentrating on what we have got,” he said.

“I’m really pleased with what we’ve got, which will go out on Saturday afternoon.

“I’m delighted with the fitness levels, delighted with their application. And I think it’s a group that can go and really do ourselves justice in this first game.”