Leeds United's Alfie McCalmont: Why I wanted to join Carlisle United

The Leeds United midfielder will spend the rest of the season on loan with the Blues.

And the 22-year-old said the Blues’ prospects in League Two – and the backing they are getting from supporters – couldn’t be ignored when the approach was made.

“There was other interest, but to be part of a team pushing for promotion…it was something I wanted to get done,” he told the News & Star.

“It’s a great club in a great position and something I wanted to be a part of.

“The move has been on the cards for a few weeks – in December I knew there was interest – and because I’ve had Saturdays off after training at Leeds, I’ve been watching some of their games [via iFollow].

“I watched the game on Boxing Day [against Bradford City] and there were 8,000 fans there, which is brilliant.

“And with the position they’re in in the league, it’s something you can’t say no to. The chance to be involved in a promotion is something that doesn’t happen often.

An 8,000 crowd on Boxing Day helped convince McCalmont that Carlisle was a good club to join (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“I just want to help the team get there and hopefully be a big part of it.”

McCalmont joins United with loan experience already under his belt. He scored ten goals in 2020/21 for Oldham Athletic in League Two, before going up a division with Morecambe last season.

Both gave McCalmont exposure to first-team football in the lower half of the table – and important experience of the realities of these levels which he feels will stand him in good stead at Carlisle.

“Oldham was my first loan, so I went in kind of blind and didn’t really know what to expect in League Two, but once I got going I thought I did quite well,” he said.

“Morecambe was similar. You come up against a lot bigger teams, with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland, but the standard is not much different.

“You’ve got to look after yourself – it’s so different from playing in the under-23s. It’s a totally different ball game. Thanks to both loans, I feel know what to expect coming here.”

McCalmont, right, impressed on loan for Oldham in 2020/21 (Image: PA)

McCalmont came through Leeds’ academy and has long been regarded brightly at Elland Road. He is versatile enough to play in a range of midfield roles but is particularly eager to affect Carlisle’s play in an attacking sense under Paul Simpson.

“The manager rang me a few nights ago, just explaining how they play, what he wants from me and how he sees me fitting in the team,” he said.

“That’s something you really want to hear going into your first day on loan.

“He showed me how they’ve been playing in midfield, either with one six and two eights, or two sixes and a ten. He sees that I can do both.

WATCH: New Blues signing McCalmont's goals for clubs and country

“It’s a good problem to have, to be able to play both positions. Once I get my stamp on the team I just want to do as well as I can. I’d say my preferred role is more attacking. When I played for Oldham I ended up scoring a few goals and that’s what I want to try and replicate this season.”

McCalmont says he has been welcomed well at Brunton Park. “The way the club have sorted me out, putting me up in a nice house, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

There is one particularly familiar face in his new squad in the shape of Ryan Edmondson, the currently-injured striker who was a friend and team-mate at Leeds.

McCalmont played alongside Ryan Edmondson at Leeds (Image: Ben Holmes)

“I saw him yesterday when I was coming to sign, and had a good chat with him,” said McCalmont.

“He was telling me the ins and outs of what goes on, so I’m one step ahead coming in this morning.

“I’ve known him since we were 16. We played in the under-18s together at Leeds then in the 23s. I remember when we were younger we used to just stick the ball in the box from corners and he was double the size of everyone else and just used to head it in.

“He’s a good player. It’s unfortunate he’s injured. I spoke to him about when he’ll be back – he’s not too sure yet. But he’s going to be back ahead of schedule, he hopes. The sooner we get him back on the pitch the better for him and the team.”

McCalmont is keen to showcase his own attributes as soon as possible.

“I’m someone who likes to get on the ball, keep it moving,” he said, “and hopefully getting a few goals, making late runs into the box – that’s how I got my goals at Oldham.

“I just get around the pitch, and work hard for the team – that’s the main thing. And fit into how the manager wants me to play.”

Leeds boss Jesse Marsch will be keeping tabs on McCalmont's progress at Carlisle (Image: PA)

McCalmont’s manager at Leeds, Jesse March, was complimentary about the midfielder when he spoke about him last week. The young player has been around the first-team squad and heads to Carlisle in good spirits after his boss’s praise.

“Training with the first team at Leeds is really good. It’s a great standard and the manager is really good as well,” he said. “Hearing nice things from him is always good.

“I saw him before I left and he [Marsch] wished me well. He’ll be getting all my clips and stuff from the games and keeping an eye before I come back in the summer.”

McCalmont opted to wait until the middle of this season before making his latest temporary move out of Leeds. “I didn’t go anywhere in the summer, because from the options I had there was nothing I really wanted to go to and I felt staying at Leeds was better for me,” said the player, who has starred for their under-23s in Premier League 2 this season.

“But when Carlisle came in, that was it – second half of the season, rack up as many games as I can and hopefully get a promotion under my belt. That would be ideal. I’m ready for it.

“It was nice and easy between Leeds and Carlisle and got sorted quickly. I’m delighted.”

McCalmont is also a full international, having earned four full Northern Ireland caps against Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta and Estonia, after representing the country at various age group levels. He hopes his time at Carlisle can help fuel his future on that scene, too.

McCalmont spent last season in League One with Morecambe (Image: PA)

“Coming on loan here getting games will help me get back into the senior side come March, when the games are back on,” he said.

“I love going away with Northern Ireland. It’s brilliant, especially for my family as well. My dad’s side of the family is from Northern Ireland – they lived in Carrickfergus and then moved over to England. And my mum’s mum as well is from Belfast. They’re all really proud.”

In the meantime, there is the prospect of the first of 22 games for Carlisle as the Blues get their season back going again. It is Newport County at Brunton Park, and McCalmont is keen to attack the challenge.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I’ve been waiting to get going for a good few months now, being at Leeds and playing a lot of games as well. I feel fit and match fit, so I’m ready to get going.”