Keogh praises former team mate O'Halloran

Great signing for Carlisle Coventry City defender Richard Keogh has praised his former team mate Stephen O'Halloran and has said he thinks Carlisle have made a very good signing. Keogh moved from Carlisle, where he was a cult hero, to Coventry City last year and played several times alongside O'Halloran in the Sky Blue. Keogh said: “I think it’s a bit of a coup for Carlisle to have acted so quickly to bring Stephen in. He is a great lad, works hard and is a very good player.” O'Halloran was released after just one injury plagued season at The Ricoh following his move from Aston Villa, where he also suffered a long injury layoff with cruciate knee ligament trouble. O'Halloran signed a pre contract agreement which will lead to a one year deal from August 1, but he will have the option to extend it by a further 12 months. Keogh believes that O’Halloran has proved his character by returning to fitness after suffering from serious knee injuries and has sufficient quality to help the Blues mount a promotion challenge next season. Keogh said: “Cruciate injuries are hard for anyone to come back from, but Stephen has done that. He got his head down and has a great attitude and having been at Villa and won two full caps shows he has a good pedigree." “He is quite an attacking full-back who likes to go forward and that’s probably why Greg wanted to bring him in. When he got in the Coventry team last season he was doing well, but a different manager came in with different ideas, and that’s football." “Hopefully he will have a good season with Carlisle and help push them onto the play-offs.”

Source: FOOTYMAD