ELECTRICIAN Liam Darville is determined to become a regular livewire in the Keighley side following his recent emergence in the first team.

The 21-year-old utility back has plugged a gap for Cougars in their past two games against Newcastle and Oldham following the injury crisis which has decimated Paul March’s squad.

And he is hoping to keep his spot for Sunday’s match at South Wales Scorpions as Keighley look to bounce back from last weekend’s loss at the Roughyeds.

Darville, a Bradford lad who spent his formative years on the books at the Bulls, is learning to juggle the demands of playing semi-professional rugby along with a full-time job.

And he is loving life at Cougar Park after signing a first-team contract at the start of the season.

He said: “I found it tough getting in at the start and I also missed a bit of pre-season due to my job as an electrician, which can involve working away.

“That didn’t help but Marchy said he was still going to give me a fair shot, so I kept going to training and I got my chance.

“Marchy is good when it comes to working away and he understands that this is my first job – I’m working down in Croydon this week, for example.

“There are other lads in the team who do likewise and he doesn’t seem to hold it against you.

“I need to keep going now because there is a lot of competition in the outside backs, maybe not quite so much at half-back, but there is at wing, centre and full back.

“I’ve been playing full back but against Oldham I had a run at half-back because Marchy pulled out ten minutes before kick-off with his Achilles.

“I don’t mind either position because they’re both pretty similar with the way the game is played.

“I’d probably like to nail down half-back but I enjoy full back too if that’s where I’m needed.”

Player-coach March is doubtful for this weekend’s long trip to the principality, which will necessitate an overnight stay on Saturday, while Brendon Rawlins (rib) and Josh Lynam (leg) could also miss out.

Cougars are already without Gavin Duffy (concussion), Daley Williams (jaw), Paul Handforth (calf), Jode Sheriffe (ankle), Lewis Graham (knee), Sean Kelly (knee), Scott Lee (elbow) and Rikki Sheriffe, who is away on holiday.

But Darville is aiming to showcase the quality which saw him recruited by Cougars, initially for their reserves side, before he was handed a first-team contract for the 2015 campaign.

Darville said: “I’m really happy at Keighley. They’re a good bunch of lads and we have been through a lot together this year.

“I love it here and I’m quite settled in my job as well, plus I’ve just bought a house on the outskirts of Shelf with my girlfriend.

“I want to help Keighley get promoted and establish myself as a first-team regular. That’s my aim now.”

Darville has played a handful of games for the reserves this year but admits senior rugby is his prime goal.

He added: “I don’t mind playing for the reserves but it’s not where I want to be.

“I left Bradford at the end of 2012 and I didn’t sign for another team.

“I went to play amateur for West Bowling and had two years there.

“It was only when Dean Muir messaged me and asked if I wanted to play for Keighley’s reserves.

“It’s not like I went to Keighley and went straight in the first-team, I’ve had to work my way in and do a year in the reserves before they asked me to sign for the first-team.

“I’ve had to work hard to get a first-team chance and now I’ve got that I want to establish myself as a regular.”