Rob Elliot hopes Carlisle United are now in a better position for having a number of defensive options back available.
The Blues boss welcomed Toby Mullarkey back to fitness last weekend, while Kenton Richardson made his long-awaited full debut.
Elliot suddenly has a number of players to pick from in the right-sided central defensive position, with Jack Ellis having been first-choice there in the league recently.
With Tom Anderson also getting his first start in the FA Cup against Tamworth at centre-back, the selection options for United’s head coach at the back are greater than at any stage this season.
“Some players have had a lot of minutes and some players haven’t,” said Elliot, reflecting on the defenders now available.
“Tom Anderson was superb [last weekend] and Toby has come back – so it puts us in a good position there.
“They give us good size, good physicality and [it’s good to have these options] coming into a spell of [three games in eight days].”
Elliot will also be able to call on Morgan Feeney for this weekend’s trip to Solihull Moors, having rested the captain for the Tamworth cup tie amid a hip issue.
Brad Nicholson also remains a regular pick on the left of Carlisle’s central defensive unit, while another centre-back, Bevis Mugabi, remains on the sidelines.
Mullarkey, a second-half sub against Tamworth, had been out since late August with a calf injury.
Richardson’s first start, meanwhile, saw the ex-Gateshead man emerge from an injury-hit start to his own Blues career.
“He’s been back for a while, but hasn’t always had the opportunity to come on,” said Elliot of Richardson.
“Jels [Ellis] and Morgs have done brilliantly, but I think Kenton needed [last weekend’s game] for himself and the mentality to take that opportunity.
“I thought he started the game brilliantly well. He had to come off because he hasn't played loads of minutes.
“We want to protect him, but I'm really pleased for him. He's a big personality in the dressing room and he's just a credit.
“When I put him on the pitch, [I know what we’ll get] – the same with Brad Nicholson, who's gone through a bit of ups and downs, but those two are people that you can rely on and you can go to war with, and you know exactly how they're going to stand up and come out the other side.”
Elliot is still missing certain players, including Harvey Macadam, Elliot Embleton, Junior Luamba and Luke Armstrong, but said others who stepped into the side against Tamworth, like midfielder Callum Whelan, showed their value,
“When you start with six players out injured before you even come back for pre-season, and you've got a small squad anyway, you're already on the back foot in terms of the minutes you can give people with the way you train,” the Blues boss added.
“So, we're almost having to play catch-up.
“What's brilliant is the metrics are all high. We're running more – high speed, everything. But it takes time for that to evolve and become consistent.
“So to see Whelo back on the pitch, along with the likes of Kenton and Toby, really adds something.
“Whelo really showed his class [against Tamworth] and his quality in terms of how brave he is on the ball.
“And if there's one person you don't have to worry about, whatever the score is, whatever the situation, it’s Whelo – he will get on the ball and he will show his quality.”
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