Right-back George Tanner is on track to make a swift and successful recovery from injury, Carlisle United boss Chris Beech says.

The defender has been out since mid-December after a collarbone injury that required surgery.

It has sidelined Tanner for a number of games at a time the ex-Manchester United man was hitting impressive form in the high-flying United side.

But head coach Beech said the 21-year-old is progressing well and impatient to be back in training.

“George is making unbelievable progress, he really is,” Beech said.

“He went to see a specialist and he was a bit disappointed because the doctor is telling him that he has to complete his full rehab, when George is just desperate to get going.

“He’s obviously lost a bit of power in his arm because it looks like he’s got a little snooker table fastened to his collar bone in his x-ray.

“That’s good, because eventually it’ll be stronger than it was.

“What he has to do now is get full range of movement, strengthen the muscle groups around it and make sure that it can take impacts.

“We all know he’s a player who puts his body on the line, so his shoulder has to be able to take that style of approach. We expect to see him right on time for his rehab process.”

In Tanner’s absence, Beech has used Jack Armer and Aaron Hayden at right-back.

The Blues’ next three games being postponed could give Tanner the chance of being involved in more of United’s matches in the second half of the campaign.

Carlisle’s fixtures against Mansfield, Leyton Orient and Forest Green have been suspended because of a number of positive Covid-19 tests in the squad.

As they sit things out, United could be knocked off the top of League Two this weekend with near rivals Newport, Forest Green and Salford all in action.

Midfielder Danny Devine, meanwhile, is expected to be out until February/March after knee surgery.