United right-back Frank Simek (FS) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) this week ahead of Carlisle's game at MK Dons tomorrow, Simek pleased to be back in the Blues starting eleven :
FS
It has been good the last couple of weeks, I have got back in the team around Christmas time and then obviously had that little injury at Preston, but I am feeling good right now physically and obviously the team is doing very well as well which always helps.
JP
What was it like for you having that spell out because you have had a relatively clean bill of health in your time with Carlisle United after having a few injury problems in your career, what it has been like for you in this period?
FS
Yeah, it was tough, obviously I learnt many years ago not to get too high during the highs and not to get too low during the lows. So, I wasn't down in the dumps or anything like that but to see the guys going out there playing every week and doing well as well then you just want to be part of that. That is probably the main thing, just not when you are injured not really feeling part of the squad or part of the team. To get back out there and contribute something finally is what I want to do and hopefully I will continue to do that.
JP
What do you make of this game then at the weekend? I mean if Carlisle are the Real Madrid of League One then I am sure the MK Dons are pushing them all the way for that title?
FS
Yeah, they are a good team, they pass the ball and they like to play football like us. So, hopefully it will be a good game, in the past we have done reasonably well against them but they are doing well as well. It is going to be tough but there is no reason why we can't go down there and take something from the game.
JP
We are into the January transfer window, it is something we have been discussing on BBC Radio Cumbria this week, what is it like for players a transfer window like this? This little month I guess of uncertainty for some players whether somebody is going to come into their position, whether they are going to go out to another club, what is it like for you players?
FS
Erm, I guess it is different for every player, the transfer targets you are going to have people in your ear telling you this and that. But, it is kind of a crazy month with the goings in and goings out, everybody tries to get their work done in this short month, but that is football and you have got to deal with it, there is probably a lot more talk than actually goings on so you have just got to deal with that.
JP
Perhaps not specifically talking about yours if you have one, but in this period get agents a lot of stick from fans who see them as this sort of evil force in football trying to hoick players away from clubs when they are doing their best. How important are agents to footballers in your opinion?
FS
Erm, honestly not that important I wouldn't say, obviously they do come in handy for people that are out of contract and need clubs and need help and advice and contacts. But, players are going to make their own moves for the most part, if you are doing well there are going to be five or six agents wanting to sign you, and then if you are not doing well no-one wants to know about you. So, I am lucky enough to have a decent agent but I know quite a few bad ones as well that I wouldn't associate myself with really, so it is just one of those.
JP
And just finally, back with Carlisle United, the fans are obviously very excited at this stage, beyond the turn of the year and in the play-off places at the moment. A lot to play for, how exciting is it possible to be as players when you have got to stay professional as well?
FS
Yeah, it is exciting, very exciting. Obviously, all we have to concentrate on now is the league and we are going to have to do that and do a good job of that because we want to stay where we are and we want to stay in those promotion play-off places. It is not going to be easy, it is still a long slog the League One season but if we can keep everybody fit and keep the squad together then there is no reason why we can't push on from here.