Foxes to let their cubs off the leash

May 3 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

JOHN Ward says he has faith in his Carlisle United youngsters and is ready to back up his words with actions by handing out two full debuts in today’s crucial League One game.

Carlisle will have to defeat in-form Bournemouth at Brunton Park today and hope other results go their way to achieve the automatic promotion that was theirs for the taking until last week.

Twenty-year-old Daren Campion and 17-year-old Gary Madine could make their first starts as injuries, suspensions and loss of form start to bite.

There are other alternatives at centre-back and centre-forward, but manager Ward thinks the pair’s youthfulness could work to Carlisle’s advantage on such a nervous occasion.

Striker Madine has been a half-time substitute in Carlisle’s last two games – defeats to Southend United and Millwall – but Ward hinted he could finally play from the start this afternoon.

“He’s in my thoughts, certainly,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about. One thing I know for sure is whoever I choose I won’t have a queue of people outside my door demanding to know why they’ve been left out after the way they played at Millwall (where the Cumbrians lost 3-0).

“I’ve certainly no fears about throwing such a young player in. I went with experience last week and it didn’t work. If anything, being inexperienced can sometimes help in pressure situations. When you’re a young player I just think you want to be there, there’s no fear about what might happen.”

Carlisle have huge problems in defence, where full-back David Raven and centre-half Danny Livesey are suspended, and back-up central defender Paul Reid will not be considered despite offering to play through the pain of ankle ligament damage. As a result, Ward has five defenders available – Paul Arnison, Peter Murphy, Evan Horwood, Zigor Aranalde and Campion.

Former Birmingham City player Campion came off the bench when Livesey was sent off at the New Den and looks likely to be selected over 35-year-old Aranalde.

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Walsall left-back has not featured for the first team since Evan Horwood was signed in January and is out of contract at the end of the season.

Ward, though, is philosophical about his side’s misfortune. “We don’t feel sorry for ourselves,” he said. “It’s why we have a squad. Nobody has their regular players available at this stage of the season, it’s just we’ve picked up our injuries a bit later than most.”

Ward will end the season as he started it – hoping for a Cheltenham Town win. The relegation-threatened Robins host Doncaster Rovers, while Yeovil Town are at Nottingham Forest and Carlisle need both to win.

Although Ward is hoping for a favour from Cheltenham, where he started the season as manager, he refuses to be distracted by events at Whaddon Road. “We’ll be hoping they win, they’ll be hoping we win,” he said. “There are all sorts of possible scenarios.

“Nottingham Forest, for example, will be playing Yeovil, who beat them 5-2 at the City Ground in last season’s play-offs. I don’t know if that will be in either team’s minds. It certainly makes for a good end of season with plenty of throw-ups.

“I’d rather not be bothered with what’s going on in the other games. People will let me know what’s going on whether I like it or not but I’ve got enough on my plate worrying about the 90 minutes and what we’re doing. I certainly won’t have a radio with me or anything like that.”

A third consecutive defeat saw Carlisle drop out of the automatic promotion places last week.

I’ve no fears about throwing a young player in. I went with experience last week and it didn’t work