Carlisle Utd's Harry McKirdy a "real doubt" for trip to Plymouth after injury against Blackpool

McKirdy is the most serious of four injury concerns for the United manager ahead of the long League Two journey to Devon.

The ex-Aston Villa man suffered an ankle injury after a challenge with Pool’s Nick Anderton.

It left him struggling to put weight on his right foot as he was helped off the pitch in the 21st minute.

His replacement, Jack Bridge, also failed to last the game as a second-half knee injury saw him replaced.

The double blow follows defender Nathaniel Knight-Percival’s half-time substitution on Saturday with a thigh injury, while Pressley also revealed forward Hallam Hope missed training yesterday.

He is more hopeful the latter pair will make Plymouth and is also optimistic on Bridge.

“I’m hoping that Bridgey will be ok,” he said. “It was more of a knee into the side of his knee. I’m hoping that it’s not any ligaments or any [other] severe injury.

“Harry has got a problematic ankle that we think he’s gone over on. It’s a bit swollen. At this stage he’s certainly a real doubt for the weekend.”

Of the other injury concerns Pressley said: “Hallam’s got a little knock as well, he didn’t join in full training [yesterday], both him and Nat [Knight-Percival] we hope will join in on Thursday.”

Jon Mellish came on for Knight-Percival against Crewe and also started against Blackpool, and will be the obvious replacement if the ex-Bradford man misses out against Argyle.

Goalscorer Canice Carroll and fit-again Stefan Scougall will be contenders for a call-up if Bridge fails to recover in time.

Pressley added: “We’ve been fortunate in many ways regarding injuries – although fortunate is probably the wrong word because the way we work and the players’ fitness levels help that.

“Really only [Stefan] Scougall has missed any sort of period of time and [last night] was two contact injuries, and that’s disappointing. Hopefully they’ll not be out for too long.”