Paul Black on his hopes for this month
Defender Paul Black spoke to the official site this afternoon moments after agreeing a loan move which brings him to Brunton Park until the middle of September."I was delighted when I got a phone call to tell me that there was an opportunity for me to come back to League One football," he said. "It's been a frustrating period for me because I haven't played as much football as I want to recently.
"This is a chance for me to come back to a level I know very well and I'm just desperate to play. I'm really grateful that Greg Abbott and Carlisle United have given me this chance and hopefully I'll prove that I can play well."
"I haven't featured in the main friendly games with Mansfield during pre-season because they have an established left back there," he explained. "I was brought in to provide a bit of competition for him and I spoke to the manager to tell him that I really wanted to be playing.
"He said that he wouldn't get in the way if an opportunity for me to do that came up and that's where we are with this now. The call came from Carlisle United and it's all moved on from there."
"Most of my football has been in League One so it's a boost on a personal level to be coming back to it again," he told us. "Like I say, it's a level I understand and I know what's needed to do the job. The gaffer had a chat with me on the phone and his focus, at the moment, is very much on tomorrow and the game against Bradford.
"It's a massive game to come into because they'll have a big crowd and it's their first one at home in League One for a while. It'll be a tough one and I'm not taking anything for granted at all.
"I know that I'm just one of the squad when I meet up with them tomorrow. If I'm playing then I'll be over the moon ... but it'll be the same if I'm on the bench. I'm here to play my part and to help whenever I am asked to."
"I know David Amoo from when we were at Tranmere together and I've followed him since we parted company," he said. "I saw he got another two goals the other night and confidence must be high right through the group after what happened in that game. It's going to be good to meet everyone and to become part of it."
As to what we can expect, he said: "I think I'd say that I enjoy the one against ones when I'm defending and I like to get up and down to support the forward play. I'm a typical full back, I suppose, and it's just great to be given the chance to come here and hopefully show people what I can do."