RICHARD KEOGH will be running on a policy of home rule when Town aim to put out a Forest fire tonight (7.45).

The 21-year-old, pictured below, starts a second month on loan from Bristol City aiming to press claims for a possible permanent move by playing his part in a second successive victory.

And if the centre-back, who has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with life at Ashton Gate, can win the vote of manager Andy Ritchie and Town’s fans with a big performance against Nottingham’s finest, all the better.

“I’m really enjoying my football at the moment, and if I’m still here when the transfer window reopens in January, then who knows?” said the Republic of Ireland Under 21 player.

“I was delighted to play my part in Saturday’s (2-0) win over Luton. It helped us climb the table (to ninth), and if we can follow it up with another tonight, things will be looking a whole lot rosier.”

Pre-season promotion favourites Forest made a slow start to the campaign, but come to the Galpharm in eighth and seeking a fourth successive League I win.

They’ve scored nine goals and not conceded in beating Port Vale, Gillingham and Yeovil, and Keogh accepts Town will have their work cut out if they are to keep a second successive clean sheet.

But the man who helped Bristol City win promotion from League I last season insisted: “Forest might be a big club, but so are we. There’s little to choose between this squad and the one Bristol City had last season, and if we can find some consistency, we can certainly challenge for promotion.

“Winning home matches is vital. We get good support and we need to turn the Galpharm into a place where opposition don’t like coming.”

Keogh looks set to make a sixth Town appearance in what could be an unchanged line-up.

Neither Danny Cadamarteri, who scored on his full debut against Luton, nor Frank Sinclair, who started for the first time in five games after a hamstring injury, suffered any immediate post-match reaction.

Seventeen-year-old Alex Smithies will again be on the bench after scans showed fellow England age-group goalkeeper Simon Eastwood has a foot fracture.

Matt Glennon’s 18-year-old deputy must now visit a specialist to decide on the best treatment.

Eastwood will have to pull put of England Under 19 duty next week.

More Town – Pages 42, 43.