Carlisle United Football Club

We spoke to him about his own form, and about the team performances, ahead of the squad’s return to work at the end of this month.

“I’ve seen some of the other lads say it already but there was a sense of frustration that we didn’t quite make it into the play-offs,” he said. “But looking at it in comparison to the relegation battle the season before it was much improved overall.

“It looks like we’re going in the right direction now. It’s a brilliant dressing room and we all love coming to work. It was superb all season and we’ll be looking to build on that and hopefully we’ll improve again.”

“From a personal point of view I thought I was playing well at the start of the season,” he commented. “I maybe wasn’t quite on my game as much as I would have liked towards the end of the season. That’s something I’ve got to learn from. 

“You get periods like that in your career and I’ve found you only ever come back stronger for it. As long as you keep working hard you’ll get your rewards. Consistency is the key, particularly in this division. 

“If you look at the teams who went up they were consistent right through the season. We’ll be up there with a shout if we can do it the same way next season.”

“I think we’ve set some really good markers down,” he continued. “We had some massive highs and it’s not every season you get to play Liverpool and Everton in the cup. For me that was a real highlight because those opportunities don’t come round too often for lower league players. 

“On personal marker is an area where I have criticised myself, and that’s because I didn’t score as many goals as I wanted. I’ve got myself in good positions and decent areas so I definitely should have had more. I’ll make sure I keep getting in the right areas and hopefully they’ll come.”

Looking back to the initial move across the Pennines, which brought him to Brunton Park on a loan move in March 2015, he said: “The move here has been fantastic for me. I wasn’t getting as much pitch time as I wanted at Bradford but I love my football again. I enjoy the way the manager wants us to play and he insists that we express ourselves.

“I’ve loved being here and being part of this team. The gaffer has told me he wants me to get forward and chip in with goals and that’s a target he’s set me for next season. Like I say, hopefully next season it’s my season for goals.”

Part two of this interview will appear on the official website on Saturday morning.