Carlisle United hit by delay with Josh Vela injury situation

The Blues midfielder is waiting to see a specialist over the problem that looks to have ended his season.

But a wait for an appointment has put back the process of clarifying the way forward for 30-year-old Vela, who has missed United’s last three games.

“It’s a bit frustrating at the moment because we can’t get an appointment to see the surgeon until the 26th of this month, so it’s a couple of weeks of delay,” said manager Paul Simpson.

“But in all fairness when you have an injury like this the surgeons want it to settle down a bit first.

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“He’s in at the club trying to get it settled, get some range of movement into it.

“We are expecting surgery. This big frustration is it’s two weeks later on his recovery, but hopefully it’s not too bad and it’ll still be a case of him being fit for pre-season.”

Georgie Kelly will hopefully be fit for United's Easter games, Paul Simpson says (Image: Ben Holmes)

Simpson, meanwhile, says striker Georgie Kelly could make his long-awaited Blues debut over Easter.

The deadline-day signing from Rotherham United has been sidelined with a calf injury.

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But there appears light at the end of the tunnel for the Irish frontman.

“Georgie is continuing his rehab and, if everything continues to go to plan, we expect him to be available maybe for the Easter games,” said Simpson after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town.

“I haven’t heard today about JJ [Kayode] but we’re expecting him back into the club next week, then it will be a week or two of getting some work with him on the grass.”

Kayode, who has been plagued by shoulder and calf injuries this season, has been back at parent club Rotherham for the most recent stage of his recovery, which has involved the use of an Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill as well as some sessions on the grass.

“It would be nice to get one or hopefully two of those available for at least some of the games this season to see, one, what we’ve missed and maybe what’s ahead for us in the future as well,” added Simpson.