Exclusive: Morgan Feeney on Carlisle’s turnaround under Paul Simpson, his Everton and Sunderland past, and the future

Morgan Feeney knows a thing or two about bouncing back, perhaps that’s why he’s become such a key figure in the remarkable turnaround at Carlisle United under Paul Simpson. 

In mid-February, a 3-0 defeat to Swindon Town left Carlisle winless in eight games, just a place off the bottom of the table and seemingly heading for the drop, but two months on, the 1-0 victory against Mansfield Town on Easter Monday confirmed their survival – a timely story of EFL resurrection, it could be said.

Feeney has been ever-present during their rise, starting every game as they’ve taken 22 points from 12 games under Simpson, and is emblematic of the self-belief and determination that has helped the Cumbrians climb back up the League Two table.

The defender has learned those two traits through experience. Whether it was “bad days” training with the Everton first team as a teenager, his release from his boyhood club, becoming clubless during the Covid pandemic after a short spell at Sunderland, or the injury issues that have plagued him throughout and forced him to wait seven months to make his Carlisle debut – there is no denying the 23-year-old has faced setbacks on his way to where he is now.

“Any footballer will tell you they just want to play football and coming here that was my plan,” explains Feeney when asked about how he arrived at Brunton Park.

“I got injured early doors coming here but finally this season I’ve been able to play a lot of football and hopefully I’ll play as much as I can. It will be a successful season for me personally to play as many games as I have.”

With 39 appearances under his belt so far, the 2021/22 campaign has been by far and away the most productive of the defender’s career to date and the quality has