Carlisle United's ex-Everton and Sunderland defender: We're like coiled springs for Boxing Day game

The year began with the defender breaking his foot shortly after joining Carlisle United. As it comes to a close, the former Everton and Sunderland centre-half is finally getting the run of games he long hoped for.

The Blues’ battle to improve their League Two fortunes is very much still on after a troubled year. Feeney, though, is gradually becoming a positive fixture in a defence which, last time out, kept a vital clean sheet in the 2-0 win at rivals Stevenage.

It is particularly welcome, then, to hear the 22-year-old say: “Physically, I feel great – I feel sharp, feel ready. And mentally as well.

“I’ve been waiting for my opportunity, have been doing everything right off the pitch. And to get a run in the team now, I’m really enjoying it and hopefully I can stay in the team.”

Nobody at Brunton Park has the luxury of resting on laurels given the predicament: fourth bottom approaching halfway. Feeney, who has made 17 appearances so far in 2021/22, is realistic about his own progress at this stage.

“Personally, I don’t think I’m near where I want to be, or where I was before my injury,” he adds. “I’m working my way back there and I’d like to think I’m heading in the right direction.

“I’m not overly pleased at the moment because I want to be back to where I was.”

United will have to be this ruthless in attitude when they return to action – belatedly, on Boxing Day against Rochdale, having seen their last fixture at home to Bradford shelved because of Covid cases in the opposition squad.

Feeney battles Ryan Bowman in United's FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury (photo: Richard Parkes)

Sunday’s game – assuming it survives the virus – will be an eventual chance for United to build on that highly important result at Stevenage, where Jon Mellish and Jordan Gibson scored to land a blow on one of the Blues’ bottom-four rivals.

“We were really confident going into it, and knew it would be a different battle, almost, to if we were playing at home,” Feeney says. “Big players up front who could hold it, a League Two battle, really, but we knew we had enough in the dressing room to go on and win that.

“The feeling after it was really good. We’d needed that for a while. Everything we felt we’ve been piecing together…we’ve just missed the result somehow.

“Just to get the win [means] psychologically we know we can do it. We know there’s more to come and we’ve got more goals in us. To win 2-0, come away thinking we know we can play better and win games better…confidence is high at the minute.

“We were a bit gutted the game was off last week, but it just gives us more fire in the belly to win this game on Boxing Day.”

The Covid climate has brought further upheaval and uncertainty back to football. At Carlisle and their fellow clubs, this means increased safety protocols in training, travelling and other activities.

It is, from a player’s point of view, nothing new given the way last season unfolded. “You’ve just got to get on with it,” Feeney says. “It’s been going that long now it’s sort of become the norm, just to keep the restrictions in place, distancing, testing, masks…it becomes second nature.

“Hopefully it’s not always gonna be like this. It’s a strange scenario, but it’s just been put to the back of our mind a bit. It’s second nature.”

Feeney hopes playing for United will also become second nature after a stop-start time of it in the early stage of 2021. “I’ve had to be patient but I’ve had a good run of games lately and I’d like to think I’ve done ok,” he says. “Hopefully I can keep that going and stay in the team.

Feeney is enjoying a run of games in United's defence (photo: Barbara Abbott)

“I can only affect the things I can control so I just concentrate on that. Sometimes things are out of my control. If I can’t get in the team for whatever reason I can only do well on the training pitch and wait for my opportunity, which is what I’ve done.

“I like to think I can bring something to the team when I’m given the chance. I’ve had that mindset throughout, when I get that chance I’ll take it and put my stamp on it.”

Feeney says he had good conversations with Keith Millen early into the new manager’s reign this autumn, and claims United are remaining upbeat despite their lowly position in the fourth tier table.

“With the performances we’ve had lately we’ve maybe drawn or lost a game where you don’t know how we’ve come away from it not having won,” he adds.

“You’ve just got to distance yourself from the table a little bit. We haven’t paid much attention to it in the dressing room because we know we’re a lot better and we know it’s only a matter of time before the wins start rolling in.”

In this season’s difficult times, he says, “you’ve got to dig deep within yourself, because when things are going well and you’re winning it’s easy to turn up, play well and be confident.

“When the chips are down you’ve got to pull together and as an individual you’ve got to sort yourself out and up your game, because that’s what the team needs.”

United – again, if Covid allows – have three games between Sunday and New Year’s Day. Not every footballer is happy with such a busy period but Feeney is eager to play.

“Ask anyone in the dressing room and that’s how we like it – just games coming thick and fast,” he says. “It’s more taxing on your body but a quick turnaround sometimes helps, whether you get the result you want or don’t.

“With the feeling in the dressing room we feel we can take maximum points from them all. That’s what we’ll be looking to do.”

The defender won’t, he says, be taking his eye off the ball and indulging himself at home on December 25. “My prep is the same for every game. Although it’s Christmas Day it will be matchday minus one for me; I’ll be doing everything right to make sure I get the right fuel in and good sleep. It’s just doing things right,” he says.

Feeney, left, celebrates with Jon Mellish at Stevenage (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Flooring Rochdale on Boxing Day would certainly be a good way to bring 2021 further towards a close. “With it being a long wait for the game, and the occasion of it being Boxing Day, we’re hoping we can get a big win and we’re all looking forward to it,” Feeney adds.

“We’ve had a long wait but training’s been really good, the standard’s been high. We’ve had a couple of tough sessions and some good tactical sessions.

“Prep’s been really good. Rochdale played their game last weekend, they might be a bit more leggy than us, whereas we’ve had nearly two weeks of good prep. We’re all just like coiled springs waiting to go.”