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Carlisle v Morecambe

Published: Friday, 6 November 2009, 2:41PM


Cumbrians missing key pair

Carlisle will be without defender David Raven and captain Paul Thirlwell for their FA Cup clash at home to Morecambe.

Raven has been sidelined for a month with a hip injury and no date has been put on his return.

Manager Greg Abbott is also without Thirlwell who has a long-standing Achilles injury. Danny Livesey will continue to wear the armband as a result.

Abbott is unlikely to tinker with the side that beat high-flying Charlton 3-1 last weekend.

England Under-20 midfielder Adam Clayton is in contention to make his debut after parent club Manchester City cleared him to play in the competition.

Abbott is expected to persist with an unconventional back four that includes Ian Harte at centre-half and Richard Keogh slotting in on the right.

Joe Anyinsah and Richard Offiong are both pushing for recalls but both are likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.

Morecambe goalkeeper Scott Davies may be handed a chance to impress in the tie.

The 22-year-old stopper has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at Christie Park, but could be set for a second appearance of the season as manager Sammy McIlroy battles a minor goalkeeping crisis.

Loanee Ben Smith has been denied permission to play by parent club Doncaster, while Barry Roche is rated as 50-50 with a knee injury.

Ian Craney comes back into contention following a spell on the sidelines with flu, but Will Haining is still not ready to return from his hamstring injury.

David Artell is doubtful with a hamstring problem of his own, while Wayne Curtis will hope to be involved after making his comeback from a back injury as a late substitute in last weekend's 3-1 win over Lincoln.

Emmanuel Panther remains sidelined for the Shrimps with a broken toe.