Carlisle United manager Mike Williamson has delivered a concerning update on midfielder Dylan McGeouch, rating his chances of featuring in Tuesday’s match against Notts County as “highly unlikely.”
McGeouch missed Carlisle’s 3-2 defeat to Grimsby Town due to a calf injury, and while the situation will be re-evaluated on Monday, Williamson isn’t optimistic about a quick return for the Scotsman.
“I’m not ruling him out just yet, but it’s highly unlikely I think,” Williamson told the News and Star.
“It was quite sore, and he’s been nursing a stiff calf. It had been improving but then after training on Friday it didn’t, so I think it [will be] too much of a quick turnaround. We’ll assess him on Monday and hopefully it won’t be too long.”
In addition to the injury concerns surrounding McGeouch, Williamson addressed his decision to start Jon Mellish on the bench in the weekend defeat. The versatile defender, who has been a consistent starter for Carlisle, was introduced late in the match but didn’t feature from the outset due to personal reasons.
“Jon has been fantastic from day one, and he’s a wholehearted player, but I just felt that [he could do] with coming out of that pressure situation,” Williamson explained. “He’s had a bit of time off, but he wants to train, wants to work and he wanted to be involved, and that’s testament to him. He doesn’t want anything other than to continue what he’s doing.”
Williamson made two changes to the starting line-up against Grimsby, bringing in Dominic Sadi, who found the back of the net, and Josh Vela. The Blues boss remains philosophical about selection changes, adding: “That’s football – you’ve just got to make sure you’re proactive, and when one door closes, another one opens.”
There was some positive news for Carlisle, though, as Terell Thomas made his return to action following a hamstring issue, coming off the bench in the 87th minute alongside Mellish.
With both McGeouch’s fitness and Mellish’s situation to monitor, Williamson faces a juggling act ahead of Tuesday’s important encounter with Notts County.
Who is Dylan McGeouch?
Dylan McGeouch began his professional career at Celtic, making his first-team debut in 2011. Known for his technical ability and vision in midfield, he struggled for regular playing time due to strong competition and went on loan to Coventry City to gain experience.
In 2015, McGeouch moved permanently to Hibernian, where he flourished. He played a key role in helping the club win promotion to the Scottish Premiership and established himself as one of the league’s standout midfielders, earning a Scotland call-up in 2018.
After his success at Hibs, McGeouch signed for Sunderland, but injuries limited his impact during his time at the club. He returned to Scotland in 2020 to join Aberdeen, where he continued to show his ability despite more injury setbacks. In 2023, after a spell with Forest Green, McGeouch signed for Carlisle United, aiming to make a fresh impact in his career.
Writer’s View
McGeouch is one of those players who, on his day, can really pull the strings in midfield. His technical ability, sharp passing, and vision have never been in doubt, but it’s fair to say injuries have held him back over the years. From his time at Celtic through to Sunderland and Aberdeen, he’s always looked like he’s on the brink of something big, but those nagging fitness issues have often stopped him from reaching his full potential. Still, when he’s fit, you can see why clubs keep giving him chances.
At Carlisle United, McGeouch has another opportunity to make his mark. It feels like a great fit for both sides – Carlisle get a player with loads of experience and quality, while McGeouch gets a platform to prove he can still be that game-changing midfielder. If he can stay healthy, there’s every chance he’ll be a key player in their campaign. It’s just a question of whether his body will allow him to show what he’s capable of week in, week out.
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