By Amanda Little

Last updated 15:17, Wednesday, 03 September 2008

BROKEN nose victim Josh Gowling returns to action for Carlisle United reserves today – despite a training ground scare when team-mate Cleveland Taylor accidentally elbowed him in the face.

Fall guy: United’s Josh Gowling in action against Kendal Town

The summer signing had only just returned to training after breaking his nose two weeks ago while playing for the Blues’ second string against Rochdale.

But he was involved in another drama on Monday when he took a whack in the face during a training session and he and Taylor challenged for the ball.

Gowling was none the worse for the knock and is now desperate to get his United career back on track by playing for the reserves against Hartlepool at Billingham today.

He said: “I’ve trained all week although I haven’t been heading the ball as I wanted the injury to settle.

“I didn’t want any balls smashing into my face – but then Cleveland’s left arm ended up in my face!

“The manager and the physio have left it up to me to see if I want to play. The physio doesn’t think it will break now and I can’t wait to get going again.”

The injury couldn’t have happened at a worse time with competition for places at the heart of defence is intense.

Gowling already faces a tough task in ousting Peter Murphy and Danny Livesey and Richard Keogh’s arrival has increased competition further.

Gowling, who joined United in the summer from Bournemouth, said: “I’ve done OK in training and thought I was going somewhere and this knocked me back.

“I’m going to have to try a bit harder as Danny and Peter are doing really well. All credit to the boys and I hope the team goes on winning as I’m not afraid of competition.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The reason I came here was because I wanted to work with John Ward who would make me a better player.

“The challenge of getting into the team will make me a better player and I will thrive on it.”

Trialist Ronnie Wallwork is also expected to feature for the reserves today as he continues his attempt to win a permanent deal with the club.

The former Manchester United midfielder has been training at Brunton Park for the past week after being without a club since leaving Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.

Meanwhile ex-Carlisle United skipper Kevin Gray is still in the dark over when he may make his delayed Workington Reds debut after injuring his knee in a pre-season game at Whitehaven.

Gray sees a specialist next week when he hopes to learn the extent of the problem, believed to be a torn cartilage.

He said: “I don’t think they are that serious. Hopefully he’ll be able to tell me exactly what’s wrong and when I can get it sorted.

“With an operation I could be back within three or four weeks, but I have to know exactly what the situation is.”

The veteran defender was boss Darren Edmondson’s star summer signing, though he is yet to play a competitive game in Blue Square North and is itching to get started.