Carlisle v MK Dons preview

Team news for Tuesday's League One clash between Carlisle United and MK Dons at Brunton Park.

Carlisle's teenage loan signing Michael Drennan is hoping to make his first start for the club. Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Drennan stepped off the substitutes' bench in the weekend defeat to Colchester after arriving from Aston Villa in a month-long deal last week. Defenders Conor Townsend (foot) and Chris Chantler (ankle) remain sidelined, while the Cumbrians will also be without influential centre-half Max Ehmer, who has been recalled by parent club QPR. Boss Graham Kavanagh is short on defenders as Danny Livesey is struggling with a calf injury, while midfielder Paul Thirlwell is still out with a similar problem. Carlisle have lost five of their last six matches. MK Dons boss Karl Robinson hopes teenager Dele Alli is fit for the trip. Alli came off in the Dons' last game six days ago at Crewe after complaining of a tight calf. The 17-year-old's withdrawal was a precautionary measure and there is a strong chance that he will have recovered in time for Tuesday night's game. The Milton Keynes club are in talks with West Ham about bringing Jordan Spence back on loan to fill the void left by Shaun Williams' departure to Millwall. If Robinson does not do a deal for Spence in time then Tom Flanagan will step in at centre-half.