Magnus Norman was back in training at Carlisle United yesterday as the keeper steps up his comeback from a knee injury.

The summer signing is close to a return in order to compete with Paul Farman and Marcus Dewhurst for a first-team place.

Tomorrow’s game at Scunthorpe will come too soon for the ex-Fulham man to rejoin the squad but boss Chris Beech says it is a boost to have him back on the training ground.

“Magnus is [training], but not in terms of being involved for us yet, because he’s recovering from the position he was in, and he’s done very well and very quick in that,” head coach Beech said.

“There may be a reaction to that due to the injury being around his knee and of course a goalkeeper’s constantly using it, hitting the ground with it etc, so we’ll see how it responds.

“It’s really good that [he’s training] so hopefully he’ll have a good day.”

United’s boss said a thigh problem was holding up young midfielder Josh Dixon’s return to full training as he nears a return after a long-term knee injury.

“I feel a bit sorry for him – he’s waited so long to get to this point, passed his test and now his thigh is playing up a little bit,” Beech said. “He’ll get going soon, I hope.”

United’s boss, meanwhile, hinted at other injury issues ahead of tomorrow’s game at Glanford Park, but would not be drawn on the details.

He said: “There’s always an anomaly at Carlisle. We’ll just wait and see what happens as we head towards Saturday. I don’t want to give too much away.”