United striker Lee Miller (LM) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) early this week, Miller first looking forward to Carlisle's League One game at Scunthorpe this coming Saturday, the Iron a club where Miller was on loan at the end of last season :
LM
I enjoyed my time there, it is a good place to play to be honest, a good atmosphere within the ground and hopefully we can make it a good one. It was good to get games under my belt, played a good few 90 minutes and it was just basically to get back on track.
PN
Of course they were in the Championship at the time, they have come down this season and haven't found things too easy have they?
LM
No they haven't, it is a hard league, League One, you have got to adapt to the situation and I think they will come out, they will come out of it, obviously they are going through a sticky patch just now but they have got the players. I know the players well there, they have got a good bunch of lads there, they will get through it.
PN
You talked about it not being easy in League One, from your own experience of playing in this league have you been surprised at how tough it is?
LM
No, I knew what to expect, I knew it was going to be tough. Obviously, there are a lot of teams that play football, but there are a lot of teams that go route one. But, we just need to be able to adapt to that because of the size of the league it is, you need to have the plan B as they say, if the passing game isn't working you can mix it up and I think we do that, so hopefully we can do that on Saturday.
PN
You talked about Scunthorpe, obviously they have lost some players since coming down, they have added some as well, but of those players who were there when you were playing there who are the obvious ones to look out for on Saturday?
LM
The likes of (Mark) Duffy and Bobby Grant are the main threats I think going forward. In my time there, there is a bit of change just now, but Michael Nelson at the back was rock solid, he has not been playing recently I don't think, which will be good for us I think because he was a good mainstay in the defence. But, they have got a good organised team, the manager (Alan Knill) has done well with them, he came in in the tailend when I was there and looked a good acquistion. We will see what happens but hopefully we can turn them over.
PN
And hopefully bouncing back from the disappointment of going out of the FA Cup on Saturday?
LM
Yeah, it was disappointing, I think we put up a good showing, a good account of ourselves. but obviously didn't get the result. But, I think we can take a lot of positives out of the game, we took the game to Charlton, we gave 100% and were just unlucky on the day.
PN
Obviously out of all the cup competitions now, does that mean in a way there are no excuses in terms of going for those play-offs, that you can focus completely on the league now?
LM
Yeah, I think you could say that, obviously it is our mainstay, our main goal is to get into the Championship, as simple as that. I think it is everybody's in League One, it is one of the best leagues to play in, and hopefully we can do that, and obviously being out of every cup competition means that we focus solely on that, and hopefully we can get our aim and our target for this season.
PN
Obviously coming up to a difficult period now over Christmas and January where there is a lot of games in a relatively short period of time, it is going to be a crucial period for the club in your season?
LM
Yeah it is, and we have got a decent enough squad, we have got a few boys coming back from injury. Obviously, we have lost Craig Curran through injury, which is disappointing and unfortunate, but we just need to kick on from here and hopefully we can get as many points on the table as we can.
PN
You have got Craig out injured at the moment, but Paddy Madden is coming back at the right time I guess?
LM
Yeah, Paddy is looking great, he is looking brilliant in training and credit to him, he has had a horrible time with his injury as well and it is a good time for him to come back, and with games coming thick and fast he will get his chance.
PN
In terms of your own form you have gone a few games without a goal now which given the way you started your career here, how concerning is that?
LM
Erm, it is not concerning at all, it is the way things go as being a striker, as long as I am contributing to the team. Obviously, you want to score in every single game you play in but it is sometimes not possible to do that. So, as long as I am contributing enough to the team and showing what I can then that is the main thing.
PN
Is it tough for strikers if you are not scoring? Sometimes does it mentally get to you or are you able to deal with that kind of thing?
LM
I think I have been round the block enough to know not to let it affect me. But, obviously you want to go out and score every game, but it is hard, it is the hardest job in the game to score goals and that is what you are based on as a striker, and hopefully I will get back on the scoring trail.
PN
How much have you enjoyed your time at the club?
LM
Yeah, it is really good, I am enjoying it, a good bunch of lads, good management staff and I think that we are all striving to do the right things and go in the right direction.