Carlisle United defender sidelined - but midfielder set to return

Archie Davies is the latest Carlisle United player to be sidelined – but Ethan Robson is set to return.

Wing-back Davies has a shoulder injury that looks set to rule him out of this weekend’s clash with Harrogate Town.

He is set to see a specialist over the problem which he has been carrying for several weeks.

But in brighter fitness news midfielder Robson is under consideration for a place in the squad for the Harrogate clash after returning from a pre-season hamstring injury.

He has trained fully this week and head coach Mike Williamson has suggested Robson could be involved on Saturday.

On Davies, the Blues boss told the News & Star: “Archie’s going to be looking at a period out. He’s got a shoulder issue.

“It's something that happened against Swindon [United’s 2-0 win on September 21] and he's been carrying it.

“Fans don't see this but there are players carrying [things], and the boys will do everything they can, with painkillers and high pain thresholds, to try and get through games.

“But when it becomes too much we're going to have to seek advice and that's what he's doing.”

Williamson said it was currently too early to say how long Davies would be out.

“He’s got to go and see a specialist and get relative scans and then we'll find out.”

Davies’ absence against Harrogate could see Jack Ellis or Jack Robinson in consideration for a start.

United’s midfield options, meanwhile, are set to be boosted by the return of Robson, who has been out since injuring his hamstring in July 27’s pre-season friendly at Rochdale.

“He's been training really well. He's in really good condition,” said Williamson.

Ethan Robson has been out since July with a hamstring injury (Image: Richard Parkes)

“He’s going to be available. He's trained for a week now. We've still got to be careful, but there are really encouraging signs and he’s chomping at the bit.”

Summer signing Robson played under Williamson at MK Dons and the Blues head coach is looking forward to having the ex-Sunderland and Blackpool man at his disposal.

“He understands the detail and the concepts, but more than anything he just brings an energy and he wants to drive everything,” said Williamson of the 27-year-old.

“In a short period he’s moved back home having been away, and he looks like he's matured and developed physically and mentally a lot.

“I've always loved him as a lad. He's got a lot of ability – he just needs to stay fit and that's up to us as well to help him with that.

“He's in a good place and he wants to come back and make a difference, which is really encouraging.

Aaron Hayden is on course to return in the next week or so, says Mike Williamson (Image: Richard Parkes)

Williamson said defender Aaron Hayden is stepping up his comeback and he could return in “the next week or so” after a calf injury.

“He’s been dipping in and out of sessions, so hopefully next week we can get a full week inside of him,” said the United head coach.

“His career speaks for himself, he's a real leader, he's a physical mountain. He does everything right, he's got a real proper mentality and I think he'll be huge for us.”

Hayden’s fellow centre-back Terell Thomas is also expected to be back available this weekend having missed last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon whilst on international duty with Saint Lucia.

“He [Thomas] is travelling back now,” said Williamson, speaking on Wednesday afternoon.

“He says he’s fine, but we’ve just got to make sure we give him the once-over and see how the camp has been.

“He's played a good amount of minutes there, so we've got to make sure that we just do it right and he'll be in contention.”

Willamson added that other sidelined players were on track to return at a slightly later stage, with United still without Dylan McGeouch, Jordan Jones, Daniel Adu-Adjei, Georgie Kelly and Ben Williams.