By Saj Chowdhury

Mention Carlisle United and three episodes in the club's recent history are likely to spring to mind.

McDonald was assistant to Iain Dowie at Palace

The first is the tenure of former chairman Michael Knighton. He claimed the Cumbrians would one day win the European Cup before revealing both he and his wife had close encounters with a UFO.

The second is the injury-time winner scored by goalkeeper Jimmy Glass against Plymouth that saved the club from relegation to the Conference, in the 1998-1999 season.

The third, arguably, is Carlisle's recent promotion to League One, under the guidance of former boss Paul Simpson.

The latter was a tremendous achievement considering the Brunton Park side had only just regained their League status the previous season.

Simpson left to take up a new challenge at Preston leaving the way clear for Neil McDonald, who was a former apprentice at Carlisle.

"When I first started out as a player, I used to go to different clubs on trial," the 40-year-old Geordie told BBC Sport.

"I eventually went to Carlisle, where former Newcastle captain Bob Moncur was the manager and he wanted to start a youth system.

"Moncur left for Hearts and Bobby Stokoe came in. The new gaffer seemed to have reputation of wanting older players, so I packed my bags and went to Newcastle."

McDonald made almost 200 appearances for the Magpies between 1983 and 1988, before moving on to Everton, Oldham, Bolton and Preston.

His coaching CV includes a six-year stint as first-team coach at Bolton followed by a shorter term as assistant to Iain Dowie at Crystal Palace.

The offer from Carlisle came his way in the summer and McDonald was eager not to let this first opportunity to manage a team slip by.

It's silly to say we're going to get promotion Carlisle boss Neil McDonald

"It was unusual to be be offered a job at a club that was on the up following two successive promotions," he added. "Those chances don't come round too often."

McDonald was also delighted with his players' attitude after they returned from their summer break and is adamant Carlisle's current top-six placing owes a lot to the squad's determination to continue where they left off last season.

"The players were fit, fresh and hungry. I said to them 'I'm new and I'll give everybody a chance', even though I knew I needed to strengthen the squad," said the former midfielder.

"To their credit they've taken everything on board and that positive attitude has been reflected in the start we've had."

McDonald, who lost striker Michael Bridges to Hull in August, has been relatively quiet during the recent flurry of transfer activity in the English leagues, but that has not been down to a lack of trying.

"My phone bill tells me I've been very active in the market," he said.

"It's not easy trying sign players. But we're hoping in the next few weeks we can bring in a couple. The squad is thin, but we've done very well so far with the players we have."

So does McDonald think the club can make it a hat-trick of promotions this season?

"The club's aim is to survive. It sounds strange to say that considering the start we've had. However, I do think we should aim a little bit higher," he said.

"It's silly to say we're going to get promotion. But if we continue to build on our start then that will do me."