Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford's ankle injury is expected to subside in time for the play-off semi-final second leg against Carlisle at Brunton Park.

The club's leading goalscorer returned to the starting line-up for the first-leg defeat at Elland Road but was replaced just before the hour mark.

Beckford had missed the previous four matches due to an ankle problem first sustained in the win at Leyton Orient early last month. Tresor Kandol and Anthony Elding are on stand-by.

Manager Gary McAllister, who has no other new injury problems, has confirmed veteran midfielder Alan Thompson will be included in a 20-man squad.

However, on-loan Leicester defender Alan Sheehan remains sidelined through suspension, so Rui Marques and Darren Kenton will be hoping to play a bigger part as Leeds bid to overturn a 2-1 deficit to reach the Wembley final.

Defender David Raven, meanwhile, is available for Carlisle.

Raven has now completed a three-match ban and returns for the Cumbrians, but it remains to be seen whether boss John Ward will tinker with the side which ran out 2-1 victors at Elland Road in the first leg on Monday.

Ward expects midfielder Simon Hackney to recover from an unspecified knock sustained in the first encounter between the sides, although Jamaica winger Cleveland Taylor can deputise if needed.

Captain Paul Thirlwell came off the bench earlier this week and his experience could see him feature in some capacity.

Jeff Smith (ankle) is expected to remain stranded on the sidelines.

TeamTalk / Eurosport