Carlisle Utd skipper Paul Thirlwell happy to play where needed
Last updated 10:20, Saturday, 29 November 2008
Paul Thirlwell says he’ll be happy to return to the unfamiliar position of centre-half for Carlisle United if duty calls again.
The Cumbrians’ all-action skipper found himself in the back four for 10 minutes at Millwall on Tuesday while Richard Keogh received stitches to an eye injury, and excelled alongside Danny Livesey.
Thirlwell is more commonly found in midfield and is hoping his persistent achilles problem will allow him to resume in his preferred position in today’s FA Cup replay at Grays.
But he says he’ll answer Greg Abbott’s call again if he is needed elsewhere on the pitch in future.
“I’ve played back there a couple of times when things like that have happened,” said Thirlwell.
“When someone goes off, you’ve got to have lads who can fill in.
“We have got people who can do that in various positions and of course I’ll do it again if the gaffer needs me to.”
Thirlwell said United’s last-gasp defeat at The Den was tough to take, but insists Abbott’s squad can take plenty of positives from their battling performance.
And the captain believes a similarly tough approach to this afternoon’s rearranged clash in Essex will see them into the second round.
“Grays are going to be up and at us and in our faces, but if we go down there and play like we can, we should have enough to win the game,” Thirlwell said.
“If we have the same work ethic as we showed at Millwall, and add a quality finish to our good football, we should be able to give Grays a game and win through.
“We know we are going in the right direction. We have had two positive results at home recently and we very nearly got another against a Millwall side who are flying.”
On his ongoing fitness battle, which Abbott said will require Thirlwell to be nursed through the season, the skipper sounded an optimistic note.
“My calf is fine now, it is just a little achilles thing which needs to clear up,” said the former Sunderland and Derby man.
“I’ve got to take it day by day, but I’ve played three games now in quick succession.
“Hopefully I’ll be ok for Grays, but whoever goes down there and plays, if they put in an effort like we did at Millwall, we’ll get a positive result.”
