Carlisle without Arthur Gnahoua for clash with Exeter

Posted Friday, February 08, 2019 by PA

Carlisle winger Arthur Gnahoua is unavailable for the clash with Exeter after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury.

The Cumbrians fear Gnahoua, who joined the club following his departure from Shrewsbury last month, may not play again this season after damaging the muscle on his debut in the 1-0 win at Port Vale on January 26.

Defender Macaulay Gillesphey is facing around six weeks on the sidelines after an operation to repair a knee injury, but midfielder Jason Kennedy played his first 90 minutes since September 2017 in the Cumberland Cup victory over Cleator Moor Celtic in midweek after recovering from surgery to address a pelvis problem.

Mark Cullen and Gary Liddle hope to be available after injury, while manager Steven Pressley could hand debuts to last week’s new arrivals Callum O’Hare, Nathan Thomas, Peter Grant and Stefan Scougall.

Exeter boss Matt Taylor has no significant selection problems as the seventh-placed Grecians attempt to leapfrog Carlisle in fifth.

Taylor has reported a series of “knocks and niggles and a bit of illness in the camp” but is confident he will be able to select a strong side buoyed by last weekend’s 3-1 win over MK Dons, now managed by his predecessor Paul Tisdale.

Striker Donovan Wilson and defender Jaden Brown will hope for debuts after signing on loan.

Midfielder Randell Williams, who arrived from Watford on a temporary deal last month, has two appearances as a substitute under his belt and is pushing for a first start.