Carlisle V Oldham at Brunton Park - Match Preview

Carlisle midfielder Paul Thirlwell returns to contention after suspension for the home game with Oldham.

Thirlwell missed the weekend defeat at Colchester due to a one-game ban after reaching five yellow cards for the season and manager Greg Abbott must decide who will make way if he wants to recall the 33-year-old.

Danny Cadamarteri returned to the side after a groin injury on Saturday and is expected to retain his place.

Abbott has no new injury or suspension problems but could be tempted to recall either Danny Livesey or Alessio Bugno to his leaky defence, who have conceded more goals than everyone bar bottom two Hartlepool and Bury this season.

Winger Jon-Paul McGovern is still struggling with the recurrence of a hernia problem and striker Lee Miller remains a long-term absentee due to the ankle injury sustained on the opening day of the season.

Paul Dickov will once again select from a fully-fit squad as Oldham look to make it five npower League One games unbeaten.

Club captain Dean Furman had to be content with a place among the substitutes on his return from international duty for the weekend's 2-0 win over Leyton Orient, and Dickov's main decision will revolve around whether to restore his skipper or retain Robbie Simpson in a central midfield role.

On-loan Nottingham Forest striker Matt Derbyshire and former Everton youngster Jose Baxter, himself on a short-term contract running until January at Boundary Park, got the goals on Saturday and Dickov is working to extend their stays in Greater Manchester.

"Without getting too confident, we're more than hopeful that it (Derbyshire's loan) will get extended," the former Manchester City striker told BBC Radio Manchester. "He's here until next week so we can't do anything until after the Crawley game anyway. Matt's loving it here and he was top class on Saturday.

"We think Jose can play at the top (level) but I hope that's not for a long time, because that means he'll be with us for a little bit longer.

"We're speaking to him (about extending his contract) but the biggest thing for us is that Jose's loving it here. He loves being in and around the boys here and he's really enjoying his football so we'll do everything we can to keep him."

Source: PA

Source: PA