Double injury blow for Cumbrians
Carlisle United will assess the extent of injuries to Michael Bridges and Jeff Smith over the next few days after Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Hartlepool.
Striker Bridges was withdrawn before kick-off at Victoria Park with a back spasm while midfielder Smith has a groin injury.
"Michael has a problem and was hobbling around the dressing room," manager Greg Abbott told Radio Cumbria.
"The news isn't brilliant on Jeff too so we're going to send him for a scan."
Bridges was expected to return from a hamstring tear for the game at Victoria Park while the Cumbrians were hoping Smith would be back in action by next week.
Abbott said: "Michael would have been involved but he back spasmed when he got out of his car at the hotel.
"He was so looking forward to getting back involved. We're just hoping it's a 24-hour thing."
Smith will face a scan on his groin injury this week
"We aren't short of numbers up front because we have Gary Madine and Scott Dobie ready and willing to come in if required," he said.
Goals from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Cleveland Taylor had given Carlisle a 2-0 half-time lead before the home side hit back through Andy Monkhouse and Joel Porter.
The result saw the Cumbrians drop one place to 16th in League One.
"We should be disappointed but I thought it was brilliant," Abbott said. "We gave away a sloppy goal at the end which was my only criticism but they gave it everything.
"It was a terrific game for everybody and we're really pleased that we've come to a difficult place and got another point on our travels."
Abbott also praised the performance of under-pressure goalkeeper Ben Williams who has been criticised this season for a number of costly errors.
"There is a bit of pressure on Ben," Abbott said. "We've not deflected it from him but we've shown confidence in him and he came up trumps.
"He had a terrific game and he dealt with it very well."
Carlisle hit by mounting injuries
Carlisle United are facing a mounting injury list as they battle to avoid relegation from League One.
The Cumbrians currently have nine first-team players out of action with goalkeeper Chris Howarth and defender Ian Harte the latest casualties.
Howarth fractured his fibula during a reserve-team game and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Harte broke his hand at the weekend and may also be out for the season, although he could continue playing.
The Cumbrians currently lie 19th in League One, just one point above the relegation places.
Howarth picked up the injury during the 1-1 draw with Preston's reserves on Monday, while new signing Harte picked up his injury 10 minutes into the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Northampton.
Former Leeds defender Harte, 31, will meet a specialist on Wednesday to determine how long it could keep him out of action.
He joins Danny Livesey, Peter Murphy, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Paul Thirwell, Michael Burns, Kevin Gall and Gary Madine on the sidelines.
Defender Livesey is unlikely to play again this season with patella tendonitis, an inflammation of the knee but Murphy should return this weekend from a back problem.
Bridge-Wilkinson is also unlikely to play again this season as he recovers from an operation remove floating bone from a toe.
Club captain Thirlwell is receiving treatment on a troublesome calf injury that has blighted his last two seasons while Burns suffered an ankle twist in training.
Gall returned from his loan spell at Port Vale last week with a muscle problem but striker Madine is set to resume his loan spell with Rochdale after receiving treatment for a sore hip.
Pericard rejects Carlisle United deal
Former Juventus striker Vincent Pericard is to leave Carlisle United after turning down an offer to extend his stay at Brunton Park.
The Cameroon-born forward, 27, scored six goals in 16 appearances during a three-month spell.
Cumbrians boss Greg Abbott said: "We made what we thought was a great offer and the club has done everything that it can to keep him here.
"However, he has made his decision and all we can do now is move on."
Abbott added: "He is a fantastic lad and we wish him all the very best."
Radio Cumbria's Carlisle away summariser Tommy Cassidy believes Pericard's departure leaves a big void in the squad for the club to fill.
"Greg Abbott's back to square one, he needs an out-and-out striker, there's no-one there with experience who can hold the ball up and lead the line," said Cassidy.
"He will be devastated, as since Pericard came in their fortunes have really turned up and he's done a very good job," he said.
"He's put himself in the shop window at Carlisle and done reasonably well and other clubs have come in for him and he's gone for the best deal he can get."
Carlisle offered Pericard a route back into the professional game in October following his release by Stoke City during the summer.
"The offer we made had the potential to push him towards being the top earner at the club in recognition of the fact that he made such a positive impact since joining us in October, and we still felt that there was more to come from him as a player," said Nixon.
"There was always an acknowledgement between both parties, from the early stages, that Vincent wanted to get back to playing regular football and we were happy to give him that chance.
"We recognised that we were bringing him away from the south of the country, and the personal connections that he has down there, and we think that has played a big part in the final decision that he has made.
"Vincent has been excellent for us, and he has got on with everyone at the club, and all we can do now is wish him all the very best as he moves on to his next challenge."
