Forest defender Fin Back barely had time to take stock on Thursday afternoon as joined up with his new teammates literally seconds after the ink had dried on his season-long loan agreement.
The 19-year-old has been the subject of interest from United boss Paul Simpson for a number of weeks, but patience was needed all round as the finer details of the deal took a while to drop into place.
Speaking moments before heading off for his first training session, he said: “It has all happened quite quickly but I’m just happy to get it over the line and I’m buzzing to be here.
“I think it’s important for the next stage of my development to play football and I’ve got the opportunity to do that here. It’s up to me to play well and get in the team.”
“I made a couple of appearances for the first team at Forest last year which was a great experience,” he added. “The Forest fans have been good with my on social media and things like that but I don’t focus on that sort of thing.
“I know that’s what everyone says but I really don’t, I just crack on every day in training and do the best I can for the team every day.
“I know I need to play regular games to really get my career going and gain more experience, and I feel like this is the perfect place to do that.”
“The staff at Forest have just told me this is a really good opportunity for me, and I’ve got to grasp it,” he added. “They just want me to come here and play as many games as I can to get as much experience as I can, which will then help the team do well.
“I can’t wait to get going. The first league game isn’t far away so I’ll have a good couple of weeks to build up to it and get to know the lads. Then we’ll all be ready to go come the Crawley game.
“It’s my first loan move but I didn’t feel nervous or anything like that, I’m just looking forward to it. I’ve been ready for this for a while now so I just can’t wait to get out there and playing games.
“I played in front of fans for the first time in my career last year and I’ve heard the fans here are brilliant, I think if they get behind us we can really do well this season.”
And on what Paul Simpson has told him about what he wants to see, he commented: “I think the staff here want me to come and enjoy my football because that will mean I’m doing well for the team.
“I think if you’re enjoying what you’re doing it makes you play better, so I can’t wait to get going. I’m at a stage where I’m getting my craft together.
“I love playing where I play, I’ll always give 100% and I love defending. I like to get up and down the pitch so I’ll work hard for the team and do my best.
“I’m here to do well, I just can’t wait. Friday will be my first training session before the Bolton game on Saturday, which I’m really looking forward to.
“I think you need to come in and get straight into it, it helps with settling in. The lads have been brilliant so far, I’m looking forward to getting to know them and building relationships on and off the pitch.”
And he comes into a club which is cultivating a positive atmosphere from a club that is enjoying a buzz of its own, having clinched promotion back into the top-flight just a few short months ago.
“I’ve been with the first team at Forest for pre-season and we’re a Premier League club now, so it’s been brilliant to be involved in that,” he confirmed. “I just feel it’s the right time for me to come away and play football now.
“I’m a Forest fan and I’ve been there since I was eight so I haven’t known anything different in football. I feel Carlisle is the perfect club to take my next step.
“It was a dream come true to be involved in a season like the club had last year. I was at Wembley and it was a great day for the club. It feels like we’re back where we belong.
“Steve Cooper has done a brilliant job and I’m sure they’ll have a fantastic season this year. I wish them all the best but I’m just focusing on doing well here.
“All of the lads at Forest have been brilliant with me. Joe Worrall and Ryan Yates have both came through the academy, so they knew exactly how I felt coming into the first team.
“They’ve been a real help and to be able to look at them and watch them has been a real inspiration for me, because it’s something I want to do.”
“It feels good to be here now,” he concluded. “I’m just focusing on getting ready for my first training session and my first game.
“I know there will be competition for places and it’s a really competitive league so I’ve just got to get going and show what I can do.
“I’ve played a few games in men’s football but I need to play three games in a week with a lot of travelling in between. I’m looking forward to really getting into it, I’m really excited.”
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