Carlisle United hope to have Jack Diamond back quickly from the injury that cut short his full debut.
Manager Paul Simpson says the Sunderland loan winger could return either this weekend or next Tuesday.
Diamond was forced off after 20 minutes of the 3-2 defeat at Leyton Orient on Saturday with an ankle problem.
The Blues want the 24-year-old back available either for this Saturday's visit of Portsmouth or the trip to Burton Albion four days later.
“We’re hoping it’s not too bad,” said Simpson, speaking at a fans’ forum hosted by United’s south Cumbrian supporters’ club in Kendal on Tuesday night.
“He hasn’t trained today [Tuesday] and I’m not expecting him to train tomorrow [Wednesday] but I think he’ll be ok to train on Friday.
“It was a contact injury – he got smashed off the full-back, his ankle just locked. There’s a bit of swelling, and he’s been using an icing and compression machine since Saturday night.
“So we’re hopeful that he’ll be fit for the weekend – if not Saturday then fingers crossed it’ll be for Tuesday.”
Simpson also gave an update on when deadline-day striker signing Georgie Kelly is likely to be available for his debut.
The Rotherham striker arrived with a minor injury issue.
“He’s probably another week and a half away,” said manager Simpson.
“The truth is if we didn’t sign him in this window we wouldn’t have got him in the summer, if it became a bunfight,” added Carlisle’s boss.
“We sneaked in and nicked in before he came into a big auction in the summer when he’s out of contract.
“I have to say, he was really keen to come. We talked about him last summer, he was out of our range, but on this occasion he jumped at the opportunity.
“He seems a good character, good personality – a really intelligent bloke as well.
“I think he’ll be a good signing for us and hopefully in a week and a half he should be back out there.”
And there could finally be light at the end of the tunnel with injury-plagued loan striker Joshua Kayode, who has been out since September with shoulder and calf problems.
“We’re hopeful JJ has eventually got over his issue,” said Simpson.
“He’s now had a couple of days where he’s been able to run without any discomfort or pain – I’m hoping he’s going to be back soon as well.”
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