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RO
I have been delighted to get back just kicking a ball this week in training, it seems like it has been a lifetime since I trained properly. So, I am really buzzing and happy that the season is starting and we are getting going again.
JP
It must have been quite a frustrating time for you just the way it started here at Carlisle because you came in for a fair old chunk of money by Carlisle's standards and it hasn't quite happened for you just yet. Is this a big season for you then?
RO
It is yeah, it is big for every player here you know, everyone wants to do well and I am no different. It hasn't been ideal that I have had some injuries and people doing well in my position and me not possibly grabbing my chance when I should have. But, this is football, I have been around it long enough to know that you take the highs with the lows and it is how you deal with the lows that determine your future really.
JP
What is your big hope then for this season?
RO
To stay injury free and show the people really why the club paid money for me to come here. Because I have shown in the past that I am a good player and I have had people making bids for me before. It would be nice for that to happen again but first of all I have got to get into the team, got to make sure I am fit and fighting for the club.
It is tough, it is tough when you go through a barren spell and I haven't really, this is the longest barren spell I have had in my professional career. I have been lucky enough to score goals everywhere I have been so it is tough but I definitely will bounce back because I am quite strong minded and I know I can deal with it.
JP
And I suppose with the barren spell that you have had there will be some fans who need to be convinced. What do you need from them in terms of just that little bit of support to help you get over the line there?
RO
Yeah, yeah, I need support, every player needs support, it doesn't matter if it is me, it doesn't matter if it is a centre-half or if the goalie is going through a bad spell. Everybody needs support and since I have been here I have had nothing but support from the fans and they have been tremendous towards me. Everyone is friendly and all they want is for me to do well, which I want to do as well for them as well.
JP
Would it be fair to say it has been your toughest time in football?
RO
Quite possibly yeah, because I have been lucky enough to have done well at most places that I have been. I have had spells abroad and I have done well there and obviously in my time in Scotland I did quite well, and I did quite well when I was a youth player at Newcastle.
But, yeah, it is quite tough but it is how you deal with it and I am sure I will deal with it and bounce back. I just need a couple of games, but it is going to be quite tough because I don't think there are many reserve games at the moment.
But I keep myself ticking over in training, working hard in training, in the gym, making sure my fitness is there. Because running-wise I have done all of pre-season, it is just the ballwork that I have been struggling with that I haven't been able to do. So, I am sure that in a couple of weeks I will be fine and I will be up to speed.