Head coach Rob Elliot stressed that the striker is not yet ready for selection.

But the frontman, out injured since pre-season, is pencilled in to take part in the pre-match warm-up as he builds up towards a comeback.

Elliot feels Armstrong’s first involvement on a matchday this season will offer a boost to player, squad and fans ahead of his anticipated return to action in “a couple of weeks”.

“Luke has joined in training a little bit and is hopefully travelling with the squad on Friday – not to be involved, but to train with the lads, get more football in, do the warm-up on the pitch,” said Elliot.

“He's a big personality, a great character. He’s worked so hard, and when you’re injured sometimes it’s tough, because no-one sees it.

“You work to get back into the environment [of matchdays] and it'll be good to have him back around. I think it's important for the boys to be around on those trips.”

Elliot was reluctant to pinpoint a particular game when Armstrong might return, but says Carlisle will gauge this over the coming days.

“I haven't had that chat really yet because I think we need to see how he reacts on the grass,” added Elliot.

“There are different stages, and it's now about getting him to the point where he's on the grass and joining in fully, but also to the point where he's stable and he comes through it.

“I think the Salford game [in the FA Cup on November 7] would be one that you either aim for or it might be just too soon, but at least you would have something in mind.

“I haven’t really had that chat with Luke or Frazer [Bell, head of sports science and medical] at the moment but I think probably in a couple of weeks' time is when, hopefully, he's had enough sessions to look at potentially putting him in the squad.”

Regarding Saturday’s game at Solihull, Elliot said captain Morgan Feeney is fit to return having had an injection to deal with a hip bursa issue.

Miguel Azeez should also be available – but the Blues boss warned that the midfielder’s workload may have to be managed over the coming weeks because of tendonitis in his knee.

Miguel Azeez may have his workload managed because of a knee issue, Rob Elliot says (Image: Ben Holmes)

“It’s nothing lingering – just about load management,” added Elliot.

“He had it towards the end of last year. I think Miggy played nearly every game last year [with Morecambe], and every minute of every game, which is brilliant and what we want from him.

“It’s just got a little bit achy on him so, with three games this coming week, we'll see how he gets on and see if we need to manage him.

“But he's a great professional, he's a great lad, he loves playing football and wants to train all the time so I don't envisage there being any real issues with Miggy in terms of an injury point of view.

“It might just be if and when we can manage his load so we're not pushing him to the extreme of it.”

Elliot added that midfielder Harvey Macadam had returned to the training pitch earlier than expected after a hamstring injury, but he is not yet ready to return to action.

Georgie Kelly remains “a few weeks” away from returning, with Junior Luamba, Elliot Embleton and Bevis Mugabi also still out.

On defender Mugabi, Elliot told the News & Star: “Big Bevis had a setback with his knee and we're having to rework his training to make sure he gets available, which hopefully he will do soon.”