Paul Simpson has given details of the injury which saw Morgan Feeney removed from the Carlisle United team shortly before kick-off at Newport County.

The defender complained of a hamstring issue during the warm-up at Rodney Parade.

Feeney’s place in the XI was taken by Corey Whelan – who went on to score United’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

Simpson said he hoped the Blues had taken the necessary precaution with captain Feeney in the hope he can quickly return to action.

United’s boss said he would prefer to have been over-careful rather than take a risk with the former Everton and Sunderland man.

“He just came in through the warm-up and said he felt something in his hamstring,” manager Simpson said.

READ MORE: Newport County 1-1 Carlisle United - as it happened!

“He doesn’t think he’s torn it but just felt a spasm. A little bit similar to what Omari [Patrick] felt in the game last Tuesday.

“So we took him out of it. He wasn’t confident that, if he had to open up in the game, he [wasn’t] going to tear his hamstring.

“We’re not prepared to take risks like that and we’ll assess him in the next couple of days.”

Whelan stepped up and took the captain’s armband – and scored his first Blues goal in the 76th minute to earn a point in south Wales.

Feeney will now be assessed in the build-up to Tuesday night’s trip to Grimsby Town.

Another player hoping to return then is Patrick, who was not risked at Newport as he returns from a hamstring issue.

“Omari was very close to being right [for the game],” Simpson said, “but we just felt it was too much of a gamble to take him.

“I talked about leaving it as long as possible but because of the seven-hour journey – and I expected it to be nine or ten – I felt it wasn’t the right thing for him to sit on that coach for that length of time and then to go and play.

“He’s confident he’ll be right for Tuesday, so fingers crossed he’s had a good weekend and is ready.”