Returning midfielder Alfie McCalmont has been telling Carlisle United fans just how pleased he is to be back at Brunton Park.
Speaking to the United website the 23-year-old former Leeds United player revealed that after signing a two-year deal he was “extremely happy to be here.”
He said: “After finishing the last game of the season I was thinking about what was going to happen to me next and then a couple of days after the final we were already talking about me coming back.
“I was delighted about that and it’s just been a case of getting it all sorted over the summer. Now it’s about being ready for the first game of pre-season.”
“There was no hesitation from me at all, to be honest. The fans, the players, the staff, they’ve all made it feel like home for me.
“I really enjoyed myself being here and I think you actually play your best football when you’re enjoying yourself, so it was a really easy decision for me to come back.
“It’s a two-year deal and I want to come back and help the team as much as I can, like I did last season. I feel like I’ve got a lot more to give, and as a team we know we’ve all got to step up to this next level now.
“It’s League One, we’re looking forward to it, and I’m sure we’re all ready to do that.”
Thirsk-born McCalmont, a Northern Ireland international who made just one senior appearance for Leeds United in five years, played 19 times last season for United after joining on loan.
He’d previously had loan experience at both Oldham (32 games) and Morecambe (26) and 17 Northern Ireland caps from Under-17’s to Under-21’s. He won four senior caps between 2019 and 2021.
He went on: “I said when I signed that I wanted to play as many games as possible and help as much as I can.
“With the position we were in I wanted to do my bit to help the team get the job done and we did that. I’m ready to kick on now and see what happens in this next season.
“All the gaffer has said is that he’s delighted to get me in. I spoke to him a lot over the summer while I was away and it was a case of going back and forth and getting it sorted.
“We’ve come to a good agreement and he now wants me to work hard so that I’m pushing to be playing and back in the team.
“I want to help the team out as much as possible in terms of the numbers with more goals and assists. I started well when I first came into the club and I want to give more of that.
“Now I’ll be getting a full pre-season under my belt I know I’ll be hitting the ground running. My aim is to play and that’s anywhere in midfield as far as I’m concerned. I want to be on the ball as much as possible and I really am just ready to get out there and get playing.”
