MATCH PREVIEW: First eleven through the door will play

It’s a game we could probably do without at the moment but the show must go on as makeshift Reds host neighbours Whitehaven in the Cumberland Cup.

Tuesday night’s Second Round tie (7.45pm) will test the club’s resources to the limit with a mixture of first teamers, Development Squad players and trialists set to represent the squad in the local derby.

Manager Mark Fell has been without several senior players for weeks and will be unable to call upon the Carlisle United loan players in the competition, for obvious reasons.

More players have become unavailable since the weekend through injury and the return of Kaedyn Kamara to parent club, Preston North End, leaving a threadbare squad to face the West Lancashire League outfit.

Josh Galloway, Tom Stephenson and Kai Nugent are the only first team regulars likely to feature with Danny Eccles, Theo Farquharson and Matty Clarke all set to make their first Borough Park appearances of the season.

Whitehaven, who defeated a much stronger Reds team in the July friendly, have struggled this season in their league winning just three and drawing three of sixteen matches played so far.

Several members of their squad, now managed by Carl Short, have spent time with Reds at youth and reserves’ level, some have played in the Workington first team in the past.  

Whitehaven received a bye in the first round whilst Reds enjoyed straightforward progress, winning their tie at Mirehouse.

The third team on duty on Tuesday will be the officials with Scott Henry in the middle, assisted by Daniel Forbes and Paul Stephenson.

• Cleator Moor Celtic, Penrith, Aspatria and Keswick are already through to the third round.