By Jon Colman

Last updated at 12:11, Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Greg Abbott admitted he is preparing to take a huge gamble in the loan market after Carlisle United’s striker crisis deepened last night.

Scott Dobie became the third Blues frontman to be sidelined with a groin injury after limping out of the 3-1 home defeat to Millwall.

With Darryl Duffy and Joe Anyinsah missing with similar injuries and controversial teenager Gary Madine out on loan, it leaves United with only misfiring Richard Offiong as a fit, recognised centre-forward - and Abbott is now desperate for new additions.

“We are going to have to take a gamble on a young player that a Premier League side will let out, because we are not going to get the kind of people we would ideally want,” Abbott said.

“We need two hardened centre-forwards at this level. Scott, Darryl and Joe all fit that description and they are out.

“If the market doesn’t allow us to do something we are right down to the bare bones. We are trying to pull rabbits out of hats now.

“But it is not easy. There is a Championship club with seven strikers and they won’t let us have one.”

Abbott said Dobie played through the pain after feeling discomfort in his groin after just five minutes at Brunton Park last night.

The Cumbrian was eventually replaced by Offiong in the 65th minute and is a major doubt for the visit of Colchester on Saturday.

“I’m really worried about Scott’s situation. It doesn’t look good to me,” said Abbott.

“Groins don’t tend to heal over three or four days.

“The big man has got a heart of a lion and he would have probably carried on. But we had to bring him off.”

Abbott’s only other realistic striking option would be to use teenage loan winger Ben Marshall in a central role.

On £90,000 man Offiong, who struggled to make an impact after coming off the bench last night, Abbott said: “Richard is lacking as bit of confidence at the moment but he might have to come to the party and show what he can do.

“We know he needs to improve a bit and we will give him every encouragement, but we have to be actively looking to do something.”

First published at 11:26, Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk