Morgan Feeney says he won’t hold anything back in his bid to be a big success in a Carlisle United shirt.

The defender says he will give wholehearted performances whenever he gets the chance in Chris Beech’s side.

Feeney is hoping to use this pre-season to push his claims for a place in the Blues team in 2021/22.

The ex-Everton and Sunderland man has given an explanation of the kind of player fans will see when he pulls on a United jersey.

“First and foremost I’m a defender who likes to defend,” he said. “I like winning tackles and headers and making blocks.

“Clean sheets are important to me – it’s all that matters to me on a match day.

“I trust the attacking players to go and get goals and win matches. I’m going to give it everything for the shirt and the club – that’s the way I play.

“I don’t hold back on anything – to my detriment sometimes when you end up breaking your foot and things like that – but I’ll be giving it everything I can because obviously that’s all I can do.”

Feeney is enjoying his first pre-season at Brunton Park having joined the Blues last January.

He was denied the chance to make his debut last season because of the broken foot he suffered in training soon after signing.

But Feeney is now fully fit and ready to compete for a place at the heart of United’s defence.

The 22-year-old also has captaincy experience from his time with Everton’s Under-23s and says he won’t hold back in that department too.

“That’s a huge part of my game and I think I’m annoying some of the staff already with that,” he said of his vocal nature on the pitch.

“I wouldn’t take it out of my game, but sometimes it seems like I talk just for the sake of it. If it helps one of my team-mates then I’ve done a good job.”

Despite Feeney being denied the chance to impress last season, United showed their faith in the ex-England youth defender with a new one-year deal this summer.

He says he wants to repay that faith whilst establishing his career at Brunton Park.

“The manager has been brilliant with me from day one from when I originally signed,” he said. “I know what he thinks of me and the plans he has for me going forward, and when I got injured he was really supportive.

“He and the lads got me through it and he has faith that I’ll come back and do well. I’m really keen to get out there and repay him.

“It’s been a while since I really got myself in full flow, so this season it’s important for me to really kick on, and I’m really excited about that.”

While Feeney has ambitions of climbing back up football’s ladder, he says that only by performing well for the Blues can he contemplate doing that.

“In the short-term I want to play here and do well,” he said. “I want to go up the leagues with Carlisle but one day I want to play in the Premier League.

“I want to do that as soon as possible, really, but I can only control what I can control. Ultimately performances on the pitch are going to determine what happens to me.”

On the prospect of a debut for the Cumbrians, Feeney added: “It’ll be brilliant because it’s been a long time coming. I’m really looking forward to pulling on a shirt with my name on the back. It’ll be good when the fans are here and I can show them what I can do.”