It was a freezing night in London, a sharp wind in the air and Leyton Orient's pitch churned and muddy - but you couldn't get the smile off James Bailey's face. "That's what you want," he said, glancing through the tunnel, back towards the bog. "That's what you've grown up in."

Bailey was only involved in 10 minutes of Carlisle's 2-1 win at the Matchroom Stadium but it is safe to say he enjoyed it. After a nomadic recent career that has included spells in India and Canada, the old-fashioned charms of England's fourth tier clearly appeal.

Bailey is United's most recent signing in a period of significant change in Keith Curle's squad. A free agent, the midfielder was able to join the Cumbrians after last Tuesday's transfer deadline day, with one striker (Charlie Wyke) went out and two more (Jamie Proctor, George Waring) having by then also come in.

After those two arrivals, plus the previous day's John O'Sullivan, came Bailey: a former Crewe, Derby, Coventry and Barnsley midfielder who opted to leave the domestic scene in 2015 in favour of less usual football scenery.

First there was FC Pune City, in the Indian Super League, managed by David Platt; and then "over the pond" to Ottawa Fury of the North American Soccer League. Vastly different experiences which may have given Bailey a more rounded appreciation of what he has come back into, with the Blues.

How did those ventures come about? "Just my agent," Bailey says. "His job is to get you opportunities. Everything comes through your agent."

India first. "It's a bit more wild at times," Bailey says. "Some of the tackles are crazy. And the fans are more mad than they are here. They had about 60,000 at games."

And Canada? "That was more chilled. The tempo was up and down - not like here. No-one was really running and smashing anyone, or tackles flying in. It's not really like that there. But they are very fit."

Then came contact with United, and the chance to re-establish himself and his name in England. "It was my agent again, phoning up. He knew Keith [Curle].

"There were a few options, but I just liked the way they play here. They play good football, have got a big pitch and they're doing well."

Bailey has good pedigree that Curle will now hope to draw on. At Derby, for instance, he made a strong impression as an emerging young player after moving from Crewe, and chalked up 38 appearances in his first season, scoring once against QPR.

That campaign saw him named the Rams' young player of the year at a time his mentors included Robbie Savage. In total he made 64 appearances for Derby, before a loan move to Coventry and a season-long stint with Barnsley took his senior appearance tally in England to 185.

Now 28, a place in United's promotion-chasing midfield will not be easily obtained. Luke Joyce has been an impressive mainstay this season while the hugely influential Mike Jones is now back from injury. Gary Liddle's versatility is another strength while Jamie Devitt caught the eye against Orient.

Jason Kennedy's groin injury creates one space in the current ranks but as Bailey settles into Carlisle life he does not expect anything other than an honest battle for a shirt.

"As a footballer you know anything can happen at any time," Bailey says. "I'm thankful to be given this opportunity at such a good club, that's flying in the league. I'll have to wait my turn and if I get the chance, hopefully I'll do well enough. But the main thing is the team keep winning and we push for automatic promotion.

"As a player, if you think that the position is yours, you can let your foot off the gas a bit. You need that competition when you're pushing each other. It's down to the manager who he picks. All you can do is keep working hard if you're not in the team."

Liddle, another recent arrival, commented this week on the strong team spirit in United's dressing room. Although only a Blues player for a week, Bailey has drawn similar conclusions and puts much of this down to Curle himself.

"I'm good friends with Shaun Brisley and he only had good things to say about the club," Bailey says. "I've come in and had a look around, and the way the manager gets us going, gets the lads geed up, there's great team morale and within the staff.

"Training is bang at it. Keith has a bit of banter with the lads, but that's the way it should be. When it's time for banter, we have banter, but when it's serious business we switch on and are ready. If we're not, he [Curle] will be damn sure to let us know. That stands you in good stead for games and it showed last Saturday, on the pitch - we went 1-0 down but it shows what character we've got to come back and get the win with 10 men.

"In this league it is going to be battles. We can't just play the way we want to play at times. You’ve got to fight back and show were not this team who's just trying to play willy-nilly football. We've got that bite about us as well."

Last Friday night, at a question and answer session hosted by United's London Branch supporters' club, Curle described his "pop and bang" theory of playing. "Pop" refers to "popping" the ball around, passing well, with patience, and at times attractively. The "bang" reminds his players that, in League Two especially, it cannot always be decorative. There is often a time and place for the laces through the ball.

Bailey smiles at this. "As a player you have to know when and when not to play. There are times when you over-play, but when you're down to 10 men and 2-1 up [as United were at Orient], it's not all playing pretty football.

"If it's on, play it, but if it's not, you've got to get rid. That's a lot better than messing about, giving the ball away and them scoring."

Whatever happens from here, it will plainly be no culture shock for Bailey, who got another 45 minutes into his legs in Tuesday's reserve friendly against Burnley. A possible home debut against Blackpool now awaits, as does the rest of Carlisle's exciting run-in.

"I enjoyed my time abroad," he says. "To be doing the job I love and get to travel and see different places was great. But there's no better league than the English league. I love it, the lads are top class, the fans are top drawer, and all I'm concentrating on now is keeping fit and trying to give my best for this club.

"It's a great feeling to be back playing and hopefully I can help us, come the end of the season, get a play-off place at worst case - but hopefully automatic. That would be lovely."