Alfie McCalmont expects his Boundary Park experience will stand him in good stead for his latest loan move.

The Leeds United youngster has joined high flying Carlisle United for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.

And he says he learnt a lot from his first move away from Elland Road, when he joined Latics for the behind-closed-doors 2020/21 season in League Two, under the management of Harry Kewell and then Keith Curle.

McCalmont hit double figures with eight goals in the league and two in the cup, leading to him stepping up a level the following season with Morecambe, following their promotion to League One.

Now he has teamed up with Paul Simpson's Carlisle to help their promotion push in the second half of the campaign.

"The manager's shown me how they play a midfield with either one six and two eights or with two sixes and a 10, he thinks I can do both so it's good to be able to play in both positions," McCalmont explained.

"Once I get my stamp on the team I just want to do as well as I can so I can stay there.

"I'd probably say I prefer to be more attacking. That's where I played for Oldham and I ended up scoring a few goals so that's what I want to try to replicate this half of the season.

"It (Oldham) was my first loan so I went in kind of blind, I didn't really know what to expect in League Two. But then once I got going I thought I did quite well. I learnt a lot and learning from the last two loans will help me going into this one and bring all that experience and it should help me a lot more.

"There are some bigger teams in League One like Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland, teams like that. For the standard it's not much different from League Two, you've just got to look after yourself. It's different to playing for Leeds U23s, it's a whole different ball game. But with the last two loans I've had I know what to expect and I'm really looking forward to it."

Speaking to The Oldham Times' sister paper, the News and Star, the 22-year-old added: "I like to get on the ball and keep it moving, hopefully get a few goals as well. Late runs into the box, or to the edge of the box, that's how I got my goals at Oldham.

"But I just want to get on the pitch and work hard for the team, that's the main thing and fit into how the manager wants me to play."

McCalmont went on to make his Northern Ireland debut following his Boundary Park spell. And he is hopeful of a return to the international fold.

"Coming here (to Carlisle) and getting games it will help me get back into the senior side come March when the games are back on. I love going away with Northern Ireland, it's brilliant, especially for my family as well, it's a proud moment for them.

"All my dad's side of the family are from Northern Ireland. They lived in Carrickfergus and then moved over to England, and my mum's mum is from Belfast as well. They're all really proud.

"As many games as I can get for Carlisle will help me get back with the seniors."