Mark Hughes hopes Jordan Jones will be back from injury "sooner rather than later" for Carlisle United.
The wide man missed the 1-0 defeat to Newport County with a foot injury.
It cost Jones the chance to make his first appearance under Hughes, having served a one-match suspension last weekend.
It is unclear whether the 30-year-old will be fit in time for Saturday's home clash with Colchester United.
Head coach Hughes said: "He's had a little bit of an issue but we don't think it's too serious.
"We're hoping he's going to be back sooner rather than later."
Former Wigan Athletic, Rangers and Sunderland man Jones missed the 2-1 defeat to Grimsby Town last weekend through the ban he incurred when sent off in the 5-1 defeat to Swindon Town in Mike Williamson's final game in charge.
Another man absent from the United contingent at Newport on Tuesday night, meanwhile, was goalkeeping coach Tom Weal.
"He was ill, so unfortunately he wasn't able to come," said Hughes.
In Weal's absence, coach Ian Watson worked with keepers Gabe Breeze and Harry Lewis in the build-up to the Blues' defeat in south Wales.
