Paul Simpson has confirmed that it is too soon to re-introduce fit-again Jamie Devitt and Ben Barclay to the Carlisle United squad.

The Blues boss said Saturday’s trip to Salford City will be too early for the duo despite their return to full training.

They were denied the chance of useful game time in the Cumberland Cup this week when United’s match against Bransty Rangers was postponed.

And despite their progress on the training ground, Simpson will not hurry them back before they are completely ready.

“It’s too early for them,” the manager said. “I could easily sit here and lie and say yes to try and confuse Salford but I don’t believe in that.

“It’s too early for them to be involved this weekend.”

Midfielder Devitt is back from a hamstring injury with Barclay returning from an ankle problem.

Right-back Joel Senior is also back in full training after his return from a long-term knee absence.

Senior, though, is still a month away from first-team consideration, Simpson said.

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Speaking about the players’ return, he added: “Jamie Devitt’s been out for quite a while and we’ve got to make sure he’s right.

“Ben Barclay has been out for a long time then had a bit of a setback [with the second ankle injury he suffered].

“They need to play, and Joel needs to play – we won’t be considering Joel for a good month probably. He needs to get more training, some match minutes, to work his way back into fitness.

“The thing I would say is we’re quite fortunate at the moment that we’ve got enough bodies available so we don’t have to rush anybody back or make rash decisions and bring somebody in when we don’t feel as though they’re fully ready. That’s the fortunate thing about having a good squad.”

Simpson said teenage keeper Gabe Breeze was fit after a minor injury concern last week.

He also said continued treatment on Kristian Dennis’s calf issue had enabled the top scorer to train fully this week.

“I know him and Jack Stretton are a week further on with their rehab and that will help in terms of being involved in the first team,” said Simpson.

United’s boss said the squad trained at Gretna on their artificial surface today after the wet weather left Carlisle’s own training pitch waterlogged.

“It is a really good surface at Gretna, and it allowed us to get all the work I wanted to get into them,” said Simpson.

“It’s good that we have these relationships that mean we can do things like that.

“We’ve done everything we planned – the only difference today is we did it on an artificial pitch.

“The work I wanted to do this week, the plan I was looking at going into the Salford game – I confirmed it last night watching them live [in their FA Cup defeat to Peterborough United, then we did the work today with the players.

“We wait and see where we have to go tomorrow. I don’t believe in worrying about things. I can’t affect these rainclouds and what it does to our pitch, we just have to get on with it.”