Carlisle United Football Club

Nicky Adams on pre-season and playing games

We spoke to midfielder Nicky Adams ahead of training on Friday morning about the tough pre-season schedule and getting back on the pitch in this week's friendlies.

"It's nice to be back playing," he told us. "The training has been hard work, and our trip to Cassius Camps was difficult, but everything is done to prepare you for the games.

"You can do as much training as you want but there's nothing like game practice. We need the minutes on the pitch and going to tough places like Kendal with them really up for the game was good. The pitch was quite long and sticky but things like that will only benefit us in the long run." 

"I think I've showed in the two games we've played this week that I just want to run with the ball and try and make things happen," he added. "There will be times when I get tackled, but I'm confident and I'll pick myself up and get on the ball again.

"I'm already building a good relationship with Danny Grainger as well, which is good. If I can excite people and make chances for the lads then I'm happy."

"I've always played with a bit of freedom because I want to get on the ball," he explained. "Some managers don't like it, because they like to be a bit more rigid, but that just doesn't work for me. The last couple of years it's been successful and the gaffer here just tells me to make things happen, which gives me even more confidence.

"We've got quite a few new lads in the squad so we're all getting to know each other's styles of play and the different ways the team are going to be playing."

On the team spirit which is already growing within the squad, he said: "We've got a great spirit already and I think going to Cassius really helped us bond as a group. A few of the quiet lads really came out of their shells which can only be good for the team.

"It was definitely the hardest thing I've ever done. It was tough physically and mentally. They really put us through it but I think it will benefit us. We're a fit bunch of lads but they really did push us to the limits. I saw that Morecambe went yesterday and even Kevin Ellison, who is 37, said it's the hardest thing he's ever done!

"We did a lot of different things which were tests against yourself really. Jabo [Ibehre] is always going to be able to lift heavier things than I am, but the main thing was helping each other through it and we really worked as a unit. Even though we were doing things on our own, we had everyone pushing us through it and the team work was brilliant."

On how he's settling in at his new club, he told us: "I'm loving it here. Everything feels good, the training facilities are good and training has been great. All the lads are top drawer and I'm just happy go lucky and I get on with anyone, so I'm really looking forward to the season.

"Pre-season is flying by and we couldn't have asked for a better opening day. You want to play at home, but even though it's a long way for the fans to travel we're going to a Premier League ground and the atmosphere will be bouncing."