United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Thursday's open press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about Carlisle's current form in League One:
GA
We are on a bit of a decent run as it happens in the league, if you take the Tottenham thing out of it we have probably lost only one out of five or six. We were a bit upset with Crawley because it dented that league form in a game we thought we probably should have won. We will probably play worse than that and win games later on in the season. But, take away the Bury game, the one in hand, if we can get a result there we are well and truly in the top six or seven.
So, yeah, the things are looking good again for us and we have worked exceptionally hard to recover from the loss of losing an influential player in Lee Miller to keep the season on a good footing, We have had a good little run in the League Cup with the Tottenham thing which got a few quid in, and now we are looking at trying to get right up at the top end of the league table.
JP
How is Lee Miller getting on at the moment with his injury?
GA
He is doing alright, he is much better in himself, he is loud again which is not great news for me but it is good for everybody else. He was stood on the banking today cheering all of the lads playing. But, he has got to have an assessment with the physio later this month to see how it is going and if all is well, and I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be, then I think he is going to give him the go-ahead to start some light rehabilitation work. The key one is the go-ahead to start light training, once we have got that then he is off and running, and we will probably be able to give you an update in two weeks time.
JP
What about Rory Loy? I have seen him, what is the latest with him?
GA
Well, we think Rory might be joining in some light football work next week. He is a lot happier in himself and that is a great bonus for everybody. He has had a few incidental injuries round the area of the break, but hopefully he has been working really hard on his rehabilitation. So, we might see him doing some of the warm-up work next week so that is good.
He is getting there, and he certainly was getting there before his injury, but since then he wants to make sure everything is right so he gets no setbacks and plays with no pain. I think sometimes that can help you and sometimes it can hinder you, but he has got his head where it needs to be at the minute and he is looking a whole lot better.
JP
Just a bit more on the more general stuff, Femi Orenuga, what was the situation with him?
GA
Yeah, obviously we are always looking aren't we to get players in from all different areas. But, we had him in, we had him in for a good period of time but we felt with the emergence of David Symington and the other wide players we have got that he wasn't going to be better than what we have got, hence the reason to let him pursue his interests elsewhere.
JP
But, with the length of trial he has had with you it shows that he obviously was in your thinking a little bit and did impress to an extent?
GA
Yeah, I mean he has got loads of pace, which is really an important ingredient. But, it was probably the whole package we thought, he wasn't quite going to be better than what we have got, so we had to say no. But, yeah, he is one of them, we have to make quick decisions because he was out of contract with anybody. Hopefully we have made the right one and hopefully Femi goes and gets his football somewhere. But, he was a terrific kid and we wanted to give him every opportunity possible.
JP
You have got this lovely run going on the road, three 2-1 wins on the trot, not quite managed to replicate that yet at Brunton Park, how hopeful are you for this weekend?
GA
Well, I think it is a good one isn't it, I think the Crawley game I thought it was a little bit funny, strange sort of atmosphere after Tottenham with the twelve and a half thousand, then just over four in. It does have an effect on the team and the group, and the ground, you had it bouncing one night and not bouncing quite so much on the Saturday.
But, I think this one, there is a lot of interest in this game for two reasons. A - Notts County are a good side, B - they will bring a fair support themselves and C - obviously Francois (Zoko) is coming back. So, I think this one will create a nice atmosphere and a real give it a go type backing from the crowd to the players and it does spread, and hopefully they can respond.
JP
He is their mole on the inside I guess of your club, you have got one in Mike Edwards, have you been sort of plugging him for a bit of knowledge on what they might do?
GA
Well, knowing the two lads as well as I do, I would rather have my mole than their mole. So, mole Edwards is the best mole we could possibly have, he is a very intelligent boy and we know, listen, there is not much I don't know about Notts County anyway, but he will give us the inside track. But, we are again concentrating on our own team and our own performance, but there are obviously threats from Notts County, and hopefully we do enough to nullify them.
JP
They are a good side aren't they, it should be a great game?
GA
Yeah, they are strong, they are powerful, but we just feel that the last two games we have started to find out the system and make it work. I think Joe (Garner) is getting stronger, I think Danny Cadamarteri has been really, really consistent. I think the wide players are having a big effect as well, Kallum (Higginbotham), J-P (Jon-Paul McGovern) on the right and Matty (Robson) is being a bit more consistent on the left. So, we are getting there with the system, so hopefully that will stand us in good stead. But, Notts County are powerful, they have got match-winners, they have got good players, it will be a good game.
JP
Assuming he is in you will know exactly how to handle Francois?
GA
I don't think you will because nobody knows how he is going to play, I still to this day don't know if he is going to be Premier League or Vauxhall Conference. He is Mr Consistently Inconsistent, but on his day there are not many better in this league, and that is what we have to hope for that he is not on song, he is not on blob, he has not come to show everybody how good he was. We could do with one of the other side of Francois days, but he is certainly a talent, an absolute talent, and I think everybody here enjoyed him and we enjoyed working with him.
JP
It is fair to say that he seemed to produce his better stuff at Brunton Park, or what you might call home, were you hoping that he has forgotten that this was his home for so long now then?
GA
It is still a long way from Notts County though isn't it, so he has still got to travel. It is an away game so let's hope he turns in an away performance if you like.
JP
Do you see it as a good opportunity to just get one or two more back in to come and see what is going on at the moment?
GA
Well, I think we are generating the interest all the time, I think finances are difficult, crowds are down everywhere, our league if you look at the crowds in our league and League Two there is a real problem with support and revenue. The amount of football that is shown on television now is going to have a really big effect on this league, but we just appeal to our own who seem to travel away in unbelievable numbers to try to join us down at Brunton Park. But, sometimes it is a big ask to get them here, but all we can do is try our best on the pitch and try to generate that support and will them through the turnstiles.
JP
In terms of that, in terms of trying to make sure that there is that interest there and push it where it perhaps is not quite happening, given the success of that testimonial and how many people came along and the recent, or last season, training session that you did in front of the fans, do you consider that sort of thing again where I guess you are not going through all of your trade secrets, just to try to keep yourselves in the public eye?
GA
Yeah, I think anything that people wanted or requested that would help I think we would do. I would go to any part of Cumbria, I would attend any forum anywhere, I would try to explain every situation at the club anywhere and everywhere if it meant that we could get an increase in people coming through. You have heard some cynics say that they will never come again while this is happening or that is happening.
But, if there are people like that then knock on my door, just knock on my door and have a chat. But, I think they are sometimes idle excuses than actual true facts. Because, I think what we have done over the last three or four years has been pretty impressive, and if it is just down to the fact that times are particularly hard than that is what it is.
But, any idea or anything that we could come up with that would help the turnstile situation I would be more than welcome to do. I would do anything, I have done in the past, I have gone to ex-servicemen's and put on forums and done talks and explanations. You will never appease 100% of people, but at least if you are in the firing line to offer your side of the situation you get a fighting chance, and I think a lot of people in Cumbria are right behind us at the moment.
JP
Just a couple more then ahead of the game, Joe Garner scored his first goal for the club on his return to the club, are we any closer to seeing whether that can be extended a bit longer?
GA
I think John (Nixon) is away at the moment but I think he is making contact hopefully over the next couple of days to see if that can be extended because it finishes on Saturday, he is not available for Tuesday. So, we need to try to make that one work, I think Joe is keen so that is a good one, I think we are keen so that is a good one, we just need obviously Watford to rubber stamp that. So, hopefully that will go through.
JP
That is great news, what about the injury situation ahead of the weekend? Anyone picked up knocks beyond what we know and in particular how is Jon-Paul McGovern?
GA
He is going to be another week at least is Jay. The infection in his groin is settling down, so he is having that all cleaned out and hopefully when he comes back he will be free of any discomfort, so that is a good one. David Symington has contracted shingles, so he will be another week or four or five days at least, he won't be available for the weekend. So, that is a bit of a blow.
JP
A good opportunity then it would seem for the timebeing for Kallum Higginbotham, how have you rated his, and similar with Joe Garner, the upturn in his performances while he has been here?
GA
Yeah, I mean again, Kallum needs regular football and at the time J-P was doing well, the good thing with Kal is he is can play left, right or in behind. But, he has got in the team due to Jay's injury on the right, and I thought he performed pretty well last week. He is anxious now to kick on and develop his loan stay with us, but no I am pleased. I am pleased with where the group is in terms of performances right now, I think we are an improving side.