Keeper Magnus Norman joined the Blues on a two-year deal this week and he spoke immediately about the positive feeling around the training ground as pre-season really starts to motor on.
“I’ve been training with the lads for a couple of weeks now and there’s a really good feeling around the place,” he told us. “The boys look sharp already and you can see everyone has kept themselves fit. I think we’re all just raring to go.
“I already know Steve [Collis] from my time at Rochdale when he was there with the manager, so that has made it quite easy for me to settle in. I know a few of the players already as well so that's been handy and I already feel part of the group.
“As soon as I knew my contract was up with Fulham I was looking for another club straight away. When I spoke to the manager and Steve it just made sense for me to come here. When they offered me a contract I was over the moon."
“To get a two-year contract does give me confidence because it shows the manager has got faith in me," he added. "I just want to come here and play well so I can repay that faith and do my bit for the club.
“I’ve just left Fulham so Carlisle is obviously very north compared to that, but I’ve been on loan at Rochdale and Southport so it isn’t much different to me. I quite like it up here actually, it’s a really nice place.
“When I’ve been out on loan I’ve played games, but not as many as I probably should have. I want to come here and get a season under my belt and play as many games as I can.
"There are only a certain amount of under-23 games you can play because that competitive edge isn’t really there. As soon as I got the chance to go out on loan I snatched at it and I think it benefits anyone who does it."
“I enjoyed my time at Fulham," he admitted. "I learned the basics and then obviously when you’re around the first team they are very good players.
"Training with the under-23s or playing reserve games doesn’t really help you progress your career. Playing men’s football is the best thing you can do and that’s why I’m really excited to come here.
“I think I come with something to prove. My loan spells gave me a chance to do that and, now that it hasn’t worked out at Fulham, it’s a chance for me to prove myself in first team football again."
“The whole group is raring to go and I think we’re all confident that we can achieve what we want to achieve come the end of the season," he concluded. "We’re looking for promotion, and I think with the squad we’ve got we can do it.
“We’ve obviously had a long time away from football so everybody is just buzzing to get back to it.
"Since March we haven’t been doing anything, basically just sitting around waiting to get back to it, so now we’re back in full-time we can’t wait to get going.”
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