Keogh future in the middle

Nov 7 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

CARLISLE United will again ask Richard Keogh to make light of David Raven’s absence, but manager Greg Abbott has no plans to convert the centre-half into a full-time full-back.

With Raven booked in for a hip operation a week on Monday, Keogh will again be at right-back as the Cumbrians look to continue their recent good form at home to Morecambe in this afternoon’s FA Cup first-round game.

The 24-year-old has already been out for a month after picking up the injury in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Macclesfield.

That prompted a defensive reshuffle, which has seen Keogh re-invented as a right-back. Abbott, though, sees it as a short-term measure.

“We’re getting through it (Raven’s injury) because Richard Keogh’s doing such a good job at right-back,” he explained. “Hopefully Richard will keep up his form while David is out because he’s doing a great job there.

“But I wouldn’t say we’re looking at him as a right-back long-term. We still see his future at centre-half.” Raven has been a dependable figure at Brunton Park since joining from Liverpool in the summer of 2006. He was an ever-present, one short of 150 appearances for the club, at the time of his injury. Surgeons do not expect him to return to full training for another four months.

Carlisle have won their last two League One games, against Southend United and title-chasing Charlton Athletic, and while Abbott would like to see the upturn converted into a genuine run of form, he is adamant little has changed.

“To be honest, the only person our last two results haven’t surprised is me,” he said.

“Our performances before then had been good and we certainly should have got far more points than we had done.

“I don’t think the situation was anywhere near as bad as people were making out.

“I’ve been saying we’re a much better team than our results have shown but if we don’t back up those performances with results, they’re just idle statements. Now we need to go another 10, 12, 15 matches at that level. We’ll be full of confidence after our last two results, now we’ve got to guard against complacency. I suppose we’ll be the favourites and it’s not a situation anyone particularly enjoys. We have to guard against taking our foot off the gas and we’ll be playing our strongest possible side.”

Carlisle’s “strongest possible side” has been something of a touchy subject this week after they were fined for not fielding it in another Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie, the penalty shoot-out success over the Shrimpers. Football League rules state clubs must start with at least six first-team regulars, and Carlisle were fined £3,000 (half suspended) when it was deemed only five had played in September. Abbott was not best pleased.

“It’s one of the worst rules in football,” he blasted.

“It’s not right, it’s as simple as that. Sometimes common sense needs to come into football, and the FA have not shown any. It borders on the ludicrous that when you’re playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, you can’t rest players for one game.

“I’ve got a squad of 20 players and what they’re basically saying is eight of those players can’t play. Without giving those players a game, how will I know if they’re good enough to start in the league?”

Danny Livesey will continue as captain in the absence of former Sunderland midfielder Paul Thirlwell, while on-loan England Under-20 international Adam Clayton could be in line to make his debut after being given permission to play in the competition by Manchester City.

Joe Anyinsah and Richard Offiong are pushing for recalls up front but may have to settle for places on the bench.