Former United winger and current Sheffield Wednesday player Ben Marshall (BM) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) before Carlisle's home game against Sheffield Wednesday, Marshall saying he loved his 18 months at Brunton Park :
BM
I loved it, it was big part in me progressing in my career, the fans were brilliant, I enjoyed the lads, the manager (Greg Abbott), everything about it, I really enjoyed it.
JP
And how important do you think it has been in terms of where you are now as a player, you are seemingly starring at Sheffield Wednesday, how much credit does Greg Abbott and Carlisle United take in that?
BM
Yeah, I think I would probably say 95%, if it wasn't for the manager and if it wasn't for Carlisle I wouldn't be where I am now playing for Sheffield Wednesday, so I am really thankful to them.
JP
Did you think that you might maybe get a chance in the Championship or when Sheffield Wednesday did you feel that maybe that was the next progression for you?
BM
I think if it wasn't for me doing my foot I think I might have probably pushed up a league, but I think people probably heard I had broken my foot so it was a bit of a risk for some people. But, I am just thankful just to be back playing again and I am back to where I sort of left off, so that was the next step for me and I am kind of doing that now, so I just want to carry on doing well and hopefully something will come along at Stoke.
JP
In terms of your time at Carlisle, I guess breaking your foot in that manner, that was probably the lowlight of it was it?
BM
Yeah, it was weird because it was a different emotion for the day because we won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy but I also broke my ankle. It was one of the downsides but there weren't many to be honest, that was probably the only downside I would say.
JP
And what will you feel coming back to Brunton Park and playing in front of those fans who idolised you for your time, and now coming back as an opposing player?
BM
Obviously, it is going to be weird because I was at Carlisle for probably a season and a half I would say, so I just feel that I went away from Brunton Park feeling like I had done people proud and done myself proud, and I always thought that if I came back on the opposite side that I would feel the fans would welcome me sort of thing and realise what I had done for the club and what the club has done for me. I am really looking forward to it and it is just going to be weird obviously but I have just got to try to do my best.
JP
And every time I watch Sheffield Wednesday scoring goals on the Football League show, it more often than not seems to be another former Blue in Gary Madine, but also more often than not you seem to be loading the bullets for him to pull the trigger?
BM
Yeah, it is good that we played together at Carlisle, Gaz is a tremendous player anyway but he has been outstanding since I have, well I am not saying since I have come, he has been outstanding. But, he has really come on as a player and as a person and I am really happy for him because he is quite a close friend of mine and he is getting his head down now and scoring goals, he is the top goalscorer in the league, he is really helping the boys by his goals and I am just really happy for him and to provide him with it is even better.
JP
And another win for you guys at the weekend, but after a really good run of form Carlisle United went down 4-0 at Charlton, are you expecting a bit of a backlash from your former team-mates?
BM
Yes, yeah, I remember when I used to be there and we used to get beat, we always seemed to bounce back after a defeat, so it is going to be interesting. I always look out for Carlisle's results to see who is playing and who has scored and stuff like that. So, I saw that, it didn't look like a good result but I am sure they will come out fighting tonight.
JP
And are you and Gary the sort of inside men for the Owls ahead of this one? Have you been giving the manager (Gary Megson) the inside line on how United play?
BM
Erm, not really no, no. Just a little brief conversation, to be fair most of it has been talking between me and Gary, we always talk about our time up at Carlisle and how secretly we miss it and stuff like that, we have just been talking between ourselves really.
JP
If that ball drops for you though, 91st minute, stoppage time, 1-1, and it is right in front of the goal, are you going to put it over the bar?
BM
No, I am going to have put it in I'm afraid, as much as I don't like seeing the Carlisle fans unhappy but I have moved on now and I have got a job to do. But, the Carlisle fans and the club will always have a special place in my heart.