Harvey Macadam is set for several weeks on the sidelines after Rob Elliot revealed the extent of his injury problem.
The midfielder, who has yet to play for Carlisle United this season, won’t be back “any time soon” because of a hamstring problem.
Head coach Elliot said Macadam suffered the injury in innocuous fashion in training just as he was returning from a pre-season thigh problem.
“He was back training after his thigh settled down – he had some antibiotics and anti-inflammatories [to deal with] the swelling infection in his thigh,” said Elliot.
“He then tried a backheel in training to keep the ball on the pitch and he’s overstretched and done his hamstring.
“He's done it quite badly. Unfortunately it’s going to be a decent amount of time out. We don’t know how long exactly but it’s not going to be any time soon.”
Elliot did not put a timescale on Macadam’s return but said it would be “a few weeks at best, maybe longer”.
It is a blow for the 25-year-old, who was a key player in Carlisle’s midfield last season.
“I feel for him,” added Elliot. “It was his first session back, and it’s one of those things.
“He’s an absolute monster, Harvey, and he’s been brilliant – he’s someone that I think will be a huge asset in this squad and this team.” Carlisle on Monday night moved to bolster their midfield options by signing Worthing midfielder Teddy Jenks.
Other news on the injury front, meanwhile, includes defender Toby Mullarkey, who missed the 4-2 win against Scunthorpe United with a calf injury. It followed his first-half substitution in Friday’s 1-1 draw at Wealdstone.
“We’re just going to get him scanned to check,” said Elliot.
“He took a massive whack to his calf and got through the game the week before, and then at Wealdstone he got another whack and felt something.
“So we just need to clarify on that and we'll see how he is this week.”
Elliot also gave an update on Luke Armstrong, saying the striker was out for four weeks.
“With Luke, you’ve got to protect him from himself, because as soon as he sniffs it, he'll be back. He'll strap it up and he'll be at it,” said Elliot.
“Hopefully after Southend [on September 12], we can maybe get him back on the grass, but we’ll see on the timeline.”
Elliot said defender Kenton Richardson could return in time for next weekend’s trip to Boreham Wood, while Elliot Embleton should be available after that game and Callum Whelan is pencilled in to be back either in time for or after the Southend game.
“Those three [Richardson, Embleton and Whelan] aren't too far away, and we'll just have to see where we are from there,” added Elliot.
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