Carlisle United’s injury problems are piling up further – with Fin Back ruled out for “months” and Paul Huntington sidelined again.
Manager Paul Simpson also said Taylor Charters has suffered a setback in his bid to be fit.
The Blues manager revealed the gloomy news after Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers.
The game saw captain Huntington forced off in the first half of his comeback outing.
The veteran defender was making his first appearance since September after a calf injury – but has now suffered a similar problem.
“He's done his calf again,” said Simpson. “I don't know how bad it is.
“The only thing I know is that when he came off he said, ‘Same thing’ - that is all I got off him.
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“He was obviously disappointed. I’m very disappointed in that.
“Unfortunately it’s a similar thing I had when I was Hunts’ age, it was the calf that kept going, it’s the nature of the physicality when you get to that age.
“We’ll see how he is on Monday.”
Simpson, meanwhile, said that defender Back, who again missed out against Bristol Rovers, was set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
United had initially believed Nottingham Forest loanee Back had suffered a dead leg but further examinations have revealed more serious damage which will keep him out for a “long time”.
Simpson, who said it was “horrendous news”, added: “It looks like it’s a small tear in his rec fem [rectus femoris] in the quad muscle.
“We’re waiting this week to get a definitive answer but we think we’re talking months as opposed to weeks.
“So it’s not a good one. It doesn’t need surgery, but we’ll get more of an idea probably next week on that one.”
Simpson also said Charters, who had been lined up for a return to action next week, “has had a setback” with United waiting for more details on the midfielder’s situation after a hamstring lay-off.
And midfielder Owen Moxon is also being assessed after being hurt in the closing seconds of Saturday’s game at Brunton Park.
Simpson added that Corey Whelan only made the squad despite having failed to train for most of the week because of a sickness virus.
And a further blow then came with striker Joe Garner receiving his fifth booking of the season against the Pirates, meaning he will be suspended for Carlisle’s next league game.
United’s next game, against Harrogate Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday night, will also see Jack Robinson suspended because of bookings in previous Trophy games.
But Alfie McCalmont can play in that game with his three-game suspension not applying in that competition. He will serve the remaining match of his ban against Charlton Athletic in two weeks’ time.
The latest injury problems come days after it was confirmed midfielder Callum Guy was ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury.
Young defender Jack Ellis is making progress after injury, meanwhile, but is not yet ready to return.
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