Swindon v Carlisle preview

Collins: In red-hot form

Team news ahead of Saturday's League One clash between Swindon and Carlisle at the County Ground.

Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio could reward striker James Collins with a place in his starting line-up after the former Aston Villa man came off the bench to score four times against Portsmouth.

Collins netted with his first touch in the 61st minute and scored another three in 21 second-half minutes to help the Robins to an emphatic 5-0 win.

He replaced Chris Martin on the hour mark and could get the nod over the Norwich loanee against the Cumbrians.

Left-back Jay McEveley is two weeks ahead of schedule as he recovers from knee surgery and could return as soon as January 19 while Miles Storey (knee) remains sidelined.

Swindon have won their last two games 5-0 and now sit in fifth place in npower League One.

Carlisle skipper Paul Thirlwell will have a scan to determine the full extent of his troublesome calf injury and will miss the clash at Swindon.

Thirlwell sat out all of November and although he returned at the start of December, the midfielder limped out of the Boxing Day win over Hartlepool and has been sidelined since.

Fellow midfielder James Berrett recently returned from a groin injury and played the full 90 minutes in the New Year's Day defeat at Crewe despite struggling with a virus.

Forward Paddy Madden made his loan move to Yeovil a permanent one this week and fellow striker Danny Cadamarteri remains doubtful with the calf injury that has kept him out of the last three matches.

Rory Loy is pushing for his first start since recently returning from a broken leg and manager Greg Abbott could be tempted to make changes to his back four, with Peter Murphy pushing for a recall.