Premiership: Nash's premier passion

Carlo Nash intends to stake a claim for a Premiership place next season in Manchester City’s remaining games.

Promotion is virtually assured for Kevin Keegan’s Nationwide League leaders and they need just three more wins to be guaranteed top-flight football next season.

Nash is already thinking about the next campaign and hopes to impress Keegan in the run-in after getting the nod because of Nicky Weaver’s cartilage operation.

Ahead of tonight’s match against relegated Stockport at Edgeley Park, Nash said: ‘‘It’s unfortunate for Nicky that he’s got injured at this stage of the season.

‘‘I was injured at the start of the season, got back in before Christmas, did okay and then for whatever reason found myself not in the team again.

‘‘Sort of unexpectedly, Nicky’s injury has put me back in again. I hope I can do well over the remaining seven games and keep my place.

‘‘Hopefully I won’t let anyone down and we can win the championship.

‘‘I only played the last six games of last season and it would be great to get back to the Premiership as soon as possible.

‘‘It would be nice to do well and hopefully that would stand me in good stead for next season.’’

City have problems in midfield going into the game against Nash’s old club. Danny Tiatto is out for two weeks with strained ligaments, while Eyal Berkovic is still sidelined with his ankle injury.

Striker Paulo Wanchope is still out as he recovers from his knee injury.