CARLISLE United are expected to hand on-loan Bradford City midfielder Jason Kennedy his debut at York City tomorrow.

Kennedy, 28, has fallen out of favour at Valley Parade, featuring just once for the Sky Bet League One play-off contenders and FA Cup quarter-finalists since January 10 despite being a regular during the first half of the campaign, making 26 appearances in total this season and scoring two goals.

He did not make the matchday squad for the Bantams' 1-1 draw at Coventry in midweek and has been allowed to join the Cumbrians' fight against relegation for an initial month.

Carlisle have lost five of their last six games - the exception being a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Cheltenham - with Kennedy's recruitment coming as former Minsterman Danny Kearns and another midfielder Brad Potts still rated doubtful for the Bootham Crescent contest having missed their team's last two fixtures.

Long-term injuries for Gary Dicker (leg fracture) and David Symington (ankle and knee problems) have also left Carlisle short in central positions and winger Anthony Sweeney is unlikely to start tomorrow having been replaced on 37 minutes during last weekend's 3-1 home defeat to Exeter.

Striker Stephen Elliott (ruptured Achilles) and goalkeeper Mark Gillespie (torn groin) are ruled out too but frontman Mark Beck is back in contention after serving a three-match suspension.

He will be hoping to compete with the likes of Steven Rigg and ex-Leeds United and Doncaster target man Billy Paynter for a starting place alongside on-loan, Middlesbrough 22-year-old Charlie Wyke, who has netted five times in nine games since arriving from the Riverside following a spell at fellow League Two strugglers Hartlepool this term.

Wyke's haul puts him just two goals behind Carlisle's joint-top scorers Potts and 19-year-old midfielder Kyle Dempsey, who have seven apiece to their name.

Carlisle's struggles have largely come at the other end of the pitch where a defensive record of 61 goals conceded is the worst in the division.

The visitors have also lost 12 of their 17 away fixtures in the division and only bottom-of-the-table Hartlepool have collected fewer points on the road during 2014/15.

A tally of 42 goals scored, meanwhile, is better than fourth-placed Southend and a higher number than half the other teams in League Two.

Carlisle (probable): Hanford, Young, Archibald-Henville, O'Hanlon, Grainger, Amoo, Dempsey, Kennedy, Griffith, Rigg, Wyke.