LEE CLARK and Carlisle captain Paul Thirlwell go back a long way.

The pair were teammates at Sunderland, with Clark a key player when fellow midfielder Thirlwell was coming through the junior ranks and making his mark.

Now 30, Thirlwell, like Clark a former England Under 21 international, has been at Carlisle since September 2006, when he moved from Derby, initially on loan. He has also played for Sheffield United.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott has a doubt over nine-goal Joe Anyinsah for tomorrow’s game.

The 25-year-old former Preston man, who has played both in midfield and up front this season, picked up an abdominal injury in last week’s 2-2 home draw with Leyton Orient and missed Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Colchester, which left the Cumbrians 14th in League I.

Scottish international striker Scott Dobie is available after suspension, while Abbott could recall former Chelsea midfielder Tom Taiwo.

The 19-year-old has been out of the starting side for three games, with Abbott explaining: “Tom has played 20-odd games at 19 years old, the biggest run of games he has ever had.

“He is not out of favour and nor is anybody else. We will pick and change the team whenever we feel we need to.”

Carlisle’s former Leeds and Republic of Ireland international defender Ian Harte will be aiming to score for the third successive game.

He is the club’s top marksman with 11, and put Carlisle ahead at Colchester, only for the Essex side to hit back through Clive Platt and Kayode Odejayi, who hit a last-gasp winner.

Former Barnsley man Odejayi got the goal which sunk Town at Colchester in October.