Tomorrow, Carlisle United welcome National League South play off winners Boreham Wood to Brunton Park in their first home game of the 25/26 National League campaign.
Having already given a sneak peak to the team I expect to see in my match preview, I wanted to look more in depth at who I think will be starting against Boreham Wood.
After a comfortable 2-0 victory in the opening game against Woking, I’m not expecting major changes from Mark Hughes in this one but with a game midweek against Solihull Moors he may want to rotate slightly.
GK – Gabe Breeze
Comfortably the best goalkeeper at the club and obviously Mark Hughes’ number one choice. He looked shaky in the first half against Woking but grew in to the game and kept a clean sheet comfortably in the second half.
RB – Jack Ellis
Ellis was man of the match for me against Woking and has made this right-back position his now. He was solid in defence, kept the ball well, dropped in to midfield as an extra man at times and got a fantastic assist for the first goals against Woking.
CB – Terell Thomas
I think these positions will be more up for debate once Morgan Feeney and Bevis Mugabi are fully fit but for now I think Thomas is one of the first names on the team sheet. He didn’t put a foot wrong against Woking and should keep his place.
CB – Aaron Hayden
After celebrating his 100th Carlisle United appearance with a clean sheet against Woking I think Aaron Hayden will start again. He and Thomas are building a good partnership right now and like I said with Thomas these positions may be up for debate when Feeney and Mugabi are fully fit but for right now Thomas and Hayden are definite starters.
LB – Cameron Harper
Harper was solid against Woking and got forward well at times. He has genuine completions with Sam Murray coming in over the summer but I think Hughes trusts Harper and maybe doesn’t want to throw youngster Murray in straight away so I expect Harper to start again.
CM – Harvey Macadam
Mark Hughes’ latest signing Harvey Macadam impressed in pre-season and had a solid full debut against Woking. The one position the Cumbrians maybe don’t have great depth is in defensive midfield and the manager said after the Woking game that Macadam will be an important player for this team and I think he starts again.
CM – Callum Whelan
Whelan had a relatively quiet game against Woking by his standards but he also didn’t do anything wrong. He kept the ball ticking over and played some key passes. He will always have that ability to create something from nothing and have that piece of magic in his locker and at non league level that is so important.
CAM – Elliot Embleton
Again like Whelan, Embleton had a quiet game against Woking but always has that spark to create something from nothing and that is invaluable. I think Ethan Robson has put himself in the frame to start after his goal against Woking but I think Mark Hughes will still with Embleton.
RW – Junior Luamba
David Ajiboye started ahead of Luamba against Woking but apart from a couple of early runs didn’t really make his mark and I think this is the most likely position to be changed by the manager against Boreham Wood. Junior Luamba started a lot in pre-season and it was something of a suprise he was left out against Woking.
LW – Regan Linney
Linney could’ve had a brace against Woking if it wasn’t for the woodwork and the goalkeeper and his direct nature and running at the defender gave Woking serious problems last week. Coming in from the wing and shooting is an art and Linney does that so well. Linney is building a good relationship with the other front men and it will just get better with more games.
ST – Luke Armstrong
Up there with Ellis for man of the match against Woking and took his goal brilliantly. He worked hard, chased defenders down and linked up with Linney very well. His position will depend on how he recovers from the kick to the head he took against Woking but if he’s fit he starts for Hughes this season.
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