INTERVIEW: Jumped at the opportunity

“I spoke to Stuart Gray on Tuesday and he told me there was a bit of interest from Carlisle,” he said. “He asked if I would be interested in coming here and it’s safe to say I jumped at the opportunity. 

“It’s important that I come out and play first team games and Carlisle have given me that opportunity. I’m really looking forward to it.

“The staff at Sheffield Wednesday have told me to go out there prove myself, not only to them but to people in this league and whoever is watching the games. I haven’t played an awful lot this season so personally I do feel like I have a big point to prove. 

“Most importantly is to help this club to secure their status for next season. I want to be part of that and I want to help them achieve it. I know it’s a big club and I would say that staying in the Football League for next season is the priority.”

“I am at an age now where I feel like I’ve got something to prove,” he told us. “I didn’t come to the UK until I was 21, so I haven’t come through the academy set up, or anything like that. My CV is predominantly in Ireland and I guess I’ve played about 15 times for Sheffield Wednesday since I came over here.

“I feel like I’ve done well in those games and I can’t think of too many where I’ve looked back and thought I’ve had a poor performance. I gained a bit more experience at Tranmere, in terms of learning the dirty side of the game and where to be on the pitch, but I’m at a stage now where I want to playing regularly so I can get myself back to what I believe I can do, and where I can go.”

“I’m determined to play games and prove my worth,” he commented. “While I’m here at Carlisle that will be about creating chances and potentially even scoring one or two. I want to be helping the other lads in the squad to get as many points as we can between now and the end of the season.

“To describe myself I suppose I’m a creative midfielder. I do get on the ball and create chances and I’ll shoot if I get an opportunity. I try to play intelligent football and open teams up. I’ve spoken to the gaffer and he’s looking for someone to be a bit more creative in the final third. That’s what I’ve based my performances on this year with the Development Squad so I want to carry that on here.”

“I don’t get nervous about loan moves,” he said. “I think I was ahead of going to Tranmere but that was my first one. I’d just got over here and I was new to first team football and being in the dressing room environment.

“I’ve been over here for three years now and I’m more than experienced. I also know Matt Young, Gary Dicker, Danny Kearns and David Amoo so that does help with the settling in process. There’s only six weeks of the season left so knowing people in the dressing room quickens the whole process for you.

“I got the chance to speak to Matt and he said he was really enjoying himself here. He’s been playing and doing well and it was a big factor in helping me decide when he said it was a great bunch of lads. 

“Looking at the league table made no difference to me whatsoever. I’ve always been open to loan moves and two or three have presented themselves this season. They didn’t materialise for one reason or another so it’s never about league position. It’s about getting games and helping this club to win points.”

“I know it’s a relegation battle so it will be a learning curve,” he agreed. “I was involved in one or two back over in Ireland when I played with a team that didn’t have one of the bigger budgets. We were down at the bottom so I know what it’s all about. 

“It’s tough and it’s about getting points on the board in any way you can. I’m more than confident that we can come out on the right of the situation we face right now. We have eleven games left to play and every one of them is a huge three points. Hopefully the fans will be behind us, as I’m sure they will be, and that will give us the momentum going forward.”