The Morgan Feeney Effect

After back-to-back defeats for Mark Hughes’ side and injuries to Terell Thomas and Bevis Mugabi the manager has called upon summer signing Morgan Feeney to captain the side in the middle of a tough run of fixtures.

Feeney has been one of the stand out performers in his last two games and after concerns over his fitness when he rejoined the club in summer he seems to have found his old form against Hartlepool and Scunthorpe.

A Closer Look At The Player

The 26-year-old came through the youth system at Premier League club Everton. Feeney joined the Cumbrians in 2021 and was a first team regular and captain before he left the club in the summer of 2023 for Shrewsbury Town.

Following his departure from Shrewsbury he rejoined Carlisle United in the summer of 2025 but was injured at the start of the season and was used sporadically by Mark Hughes. The defender has appeared seven times this season but only started twice.

Feeney’s return to the team was an early substitution against Hartlepool after an injury to Bevis Mugabi and he went on to be one of the best players on the pitch in that game and got a goal to go with it. He then went on to captain the blues to their 1-0 win at unbeaten Scunthorpe at the weekend and was colossal at the back alongside Aaron Hayden.

Morgan Feeney’s Attributes

With Feeney’s return to the team and the quality he has shown I think it’s worth talking about because it’s gone under the radar with some people. The 26-year-old’s leadership and mentality is something I think this current side really needed after back-to-back relegations.

Feeney leads from the front and his performance against Scunthorpe in particular highlighted that. He was on the end of every cross Scunthorpe put in to the box, he held the line well and brought the best out of Aaron Hayden as well. Bringing the best of our your teammates and inspiring others is something you love to see from your captain.

Another part of his game I noticed against Scunthorpe was he was constantly at the referee about his dreadful decisions, something you don’t always see from other captains but Feeney once again was leading by example and holding the poor officiating to account.

Morgan Feeney Stats This Season

I have broken down the statistics so far this season with Morgan Feeney in the side. So far this season he has appeared seven times and started twice. Carlisle have had three clean sheets when Feeney has played and have conceded four times. Feeney has scored once and got one assist to his name so far this season as well.

Mark Hughes’ side have kept clean sheets on nearly half of the games Feeney has featured and that can’t be a coincidence. He makes everyone around him defend and player better and he gives our goalkeeper confidence to come for crosses as well as we noticed in the Scunthorpe game.

A fully fit Feeney has to be the first defender on the team sheet and captain in my opinion.

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