Abbott ready to gamble on Collin.

Byline: Mark Douglas 

GREG Abbott insists he has every confidence in rookie goalkeeper Adam Collin, who is on standby to make his league debut in place of the ill Lenny Pidgeley at Walsall.

Pidgeley has been laid low by a virus and, although he played through the symptoms at Leeds, the former Chelsea and Milwall man is almost certainly ruled out of today's trip to the Bescot Stadium.

That paves the way for Collin, who signed professional terms at Brunton Park over the summer, to make his first-team debut for Carlisle.

Abbott acknowledges that it will be a "gamble" to thrust Collin into the first team but feels that he has all the makings of an excellent Football League keeper.

"Adam is untried, untested and it would possibly be a slight gamble, but he has got the presence and size, and is looking great in training," said Abbott.

"One of the reasons for Lenny's terrific form is the fact that Adam is pushing him all the time. He is absolutely ready and he won't let us down if called upon.

"He is ready to step in and do the job with no problem. It is a much stronger situation than we had last season, when we had a loan keeper in, and I don't think Adam would be bothered by it at all.

"He's still in his infancy as far as his career's concerned, but he gives you the feeling he is ready to make the next step."

Carlisle notched an encouraging point at Leeds, and the only blot on the copybook was Abbott himself being sent to the stands for arguing over the first-half penalty that was awarded to Simon Grayson's table-toppers.

But the Cumbrians' chief insists he has put that behind him and is still hopeful of escaping a touchline ban. "I was sent to the stand for leaving my technical area, which is fair enough," he said.

"It isn't the greatest sin in the world. Once you start abusing referees and managers it's a serious thing, but I didn't do that.

"So I am hopeful that will be the end of it, but we have to wait and see what the FA come out with."

Paul Thirlwell and Gary Madine miss out today but Scott Dobie, who stepped off the bench to score the equaliser at Elland Road, is set for a recall.

CAPTION(S):

FAITH Greg Abbott.