Keogh played seven times for Carlisle during his loan spell last season

Carlisle United defender Richard Keogh is determined to hold down a regular starting place after making his second 'debut' for the club at the weekend.

The 22-year-old moved to Brunton Park on a two-year deal from Bristol City in August following a loan spell with the club last season.

He was called into the side for Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Leeds United following an injury to Peter Murphy.

"Hopefully I can stay in the team now and kick on from there," Keogh said.

"It was unfortunate for Murph to pick up the injury because he was obviously looking forward to the game and he feels that he is doing well," Keogh told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"From a selfish point of view though it was a great opportunity for me and I feel like I did well."

Football is a funny game and you never know when your opportunity might come around Richard Keogh

Murphy will now face a scan this week to determine the extent of his knee ligament injury.

"I was working hard in training and pushing [Danny] Livesey and Murph and I think that is the only way that they would want it to be as well," Keogh added.

"If I wasn't doing my side of the job then they would probably be saying the same thing.

"Football is a funny game and you never know when your opportunity might come around. I have got in the team now and hopefully I can stay there."

Keogh began his career as a trainee with Stoke City before spending a season in Iceland with Vikingur Reykjavik. He made the move to Ashton Gate in the summer of 2005.

He was a regular in City's 2006/07 promotion-winning side when he picked up the club's Young Player of the Year award.

He became captain of the Republic of Ireland's under-21 side in October 2006 but found himself out-of-favour at Ashton Gate after turning down a new contract offer last year.

He spent the 2007/08 season out on loan - at Huddersfield Town, Carlisle and Cheltenham Town.

"The Carlisle fans have been brilliant ever since I have been here. It is a great buzz every time I play at Brunton Park," Keogh said.

"It would be fantastic if they could keep following us, get behind the team and get behind everyone at the club to help us push it in the right way. "