Owen Moxon has the talent to be the key man in the Carlisle midfield – which would be the perfect role for the United fan.
Moxon, 24, was Paul Simpson’s first summer signing and the Carlisle-born midfielder has won plaudits through the pre-season.
But he admits, as a supporter of the club from a very young age he hadn’t been as nervous for a long time as he was last week at Brunton Park.
He was speaking to the club website from Largs where he was part of the United squad which has been stepping up training and fitting in a game with Livingston.
He said: “As a fan myself I know how much everybody supports Carlisle and I know what it means to them for us to be doing well. When they’re there in numbers, even for a friendly like it was last weekend, it’s brilliant.
“Hopefully as many as possible can come down for the first game against Crawley next Saturday, get behind us and give us that extra lift.
“Being local I know a few of the lads who are my friends were at the game the other day but I don’t think too much about that. It’s nice when you come off the pitch to read the comments from the fans.
“Even if it’s just pre-season reading the comments from the supporters is good and it does give you a bit more confidence. That’s the same for all the lads, when the fans get behind you it matters.
“I know there are things I need to work on, and improve, which the gaffer and Gav are talking to me about all the time. I’m just looking forward to seeing it all come off for me in the league.”
Playing at Brunton Park against Bolton really had the butterflies fluttering, Moxon said.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s the first time I’ve been nervous before a game for a long time. Being at Brunton Park and finally getting out onto the pitch – it’s all I’ve wanted to do from a very young age.
“Then on Twitter, as we said before, some of the fans said I had a good game and that’s nice. I felt ok in myself, but I also felt I could do better and as I get more confident I’m hoping that’ll grow.
“I’ve been made to feel welcome by the group so coming away to Largs and having a bit of a laugh, on top of the serious training, is another good thing for us all.
“And the shape we’re playing has worked. We’ve played with the two sitting, and one in front, but the gaffer’s changed it a couple of times as well.
“I’m used to being the one sitting, so I’ve been able to get a little bit further forward. It’s a role I’ve never really played before so it was different for me to do that against Bolton.
“I had to adapt to it, then things change during the game and that’s when we have to talk to each other and sort it out while we’re out there. That worked well.”
