Ex-Newcastle star misses match due to car crash as current club issue statement

Former Newcastle defender Paul Dummett reunited with ex-team-mate Mike Williamson at League Two bottom dwellers Carlisle United but was forced to miss Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Bradford City

Ex-Newcastle defender Paul Dummett was forced to miss his potential debut for Carlisle United after being involved in a car crash.

Dummett, 33, joined the Cumbrians last week following a brief spell with Wigan Athletic, having left Newcastle after more than two decades last May. He reunited with former Magpies team-mate Mike Williamson at Brunton Park, with Carlisle rooted to the bottom of League Two.

But Dummett was unable to help the Blues in their dismal 1-0 defeat at home to in-form Bradford City on Saturday. Having been notably left out of the matchday squad, Williamson confirmed after the loss that the five-time Wales international was recovering from the crash.

A club statement read: “Mike Williamson has confirmed that Paul Dummett missed today’s game after he was involved in a car accident yesterday. He’s got a couple of cuts and bruises, but no serious injuries. Paul will be back in full training on Monday.”

Williamson added: “He’s okay. He spent the day getting some tests done, but he’ll be in training on Monday and we expect him to be fit next weekend.”

Dummett joined Carlisle’s fight to avoid back-to-back relegations after only making five appearances at Wigan, which included just one start. The left-sided defender played eight times for hometown club Newcastle last season, most memorably starring in their Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City.

His only season as a regular starter for the Magpies came during their promotion-winning 2016-17 campaign in the Championship. Dummett’s contract came to an end in May 2024 and although he initially signed for League One Wigan, he revealed this week that he’d always considered a move to Cumbria.

“I always looked at Carlisle as an option for me when I left Newcastle, actually, even before I went to Wigan,” Dummett told the News & Star. “I felt Carlisle could be a good fit for me. Being from Newcastle, it meant being close to home, and I know the quality of the pitch here as well, watching over the years.”

He’ll need to have a huge impact under Williamson, who’s already been backed with nine January signings by the club’s American owners, despite winning just four of his 21 games in charge since replacing Carlisle legend Paul Simpson in September. The Blues, who last found themselves playing in the National League in 2006, have mustered just 18 points from their opening 25 matches, leaving them seven points adrift of safety.

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