Carlisle City and Workington Reds will still have players missing when they square up at Gillford Park’s Three Rivers HSC Stadium tonight. (7.30pm).
Reds had six missing on Saturday when they lost at home 3-0 to Carlisle United and manager Danny Grainger expects to have at least two back to face City.
By contrast City boss Jim Nichols had nine missing in the 1-0 defeat at home to Kendal Town but does believes that a number of those will be available to face the Reds.
“It’s what it is in pre-season,” said Grainger, “lads have to take their holidays and hopefully we will have them available for our friendlies which we still have to play.”
Grainger is still trying to add to his squad before the start of the season on August 12 and has three players in his sights.
He has also started to make decisions on the players who have been in as trialists, still looking at three of the original six.
One of the positions he needs to fill is that of back-up goalkeeper as Danny Eccles, a competent number two for three seasons, has been confirmed as suffering a broken fibula in the first pre-season game with Whitehaven.
He is likely to be out for up to four months and on Saturday, against his former club Lewis Boyd was given the opportunity to impress in goal. Grainger plans to use him again in the Carlisle City match.
Here's Martin Grundy's goal from yesterday's 1-0 win at Carlisle City ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jEafOhuZMU
— Kendal Town FC (@kendaltownfc) July 16, 2023
There’s a possibility that the Morecambe game, postponed last week because the League Two club were unable to field sufficient players, might be fitted in before August 5 when they start their EFL programme.
As things stand Reds have friendlies against Carlisle City (A), Tuesday, July 18; Whitley Bay (A), Saturday, July 22; Penrith (H), Tuesday, July 25; Ashington (A), Saturday, July 29; Dunston (A), August 5.
Carlisle City boss Nichols saw his depleted side lose for the first time on Saturday at home to Kendal but previously they had comfortable wins over Lochmaben and Milnthorpe Corinthians before drawing with Garstang.
“It’s not good when you have so many players missing but it’s that time of the year and as long as we have them available when the season starts that is all we can ask,” he said.
