Connor O’Riordan has his sights set on keeping his place in the Crewe Alexandra team, after helping to keep a clean sheet on his return from a loan spell.

The homegrown defender was recently recalled from a successful time at Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers, and made his first Alex outing of the season in the 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Now, after an impressive performance, he wants to keep his place as the squad prepares for this weekend’s trip to Mansfield Town (Saturday, 3pm).

O’Riordan said: “Being back has been really good. The atmosphere is good in the dressing room and it’s nice to be back and to see everyone. 

“I think the loan was absolutely brilliant for me, and Raith were amazing – a really good club. I owe a lot to them for giving me the opportunity to play, and I think it will stand me in good stead coming back here. 

“Now, all I can do is perform well when I get the chance to play here, and hopefully I’ve done that.

“It’s going to be tough to maintain a spot but hopefully I can do so. There is a lot of football to be played so hopefully we can put a nice run together and start climbing the league.”

O’Riordan, 19, will face stiff competition for a place in the heart of defence from captain Luke Offord, who has one more game of his suspension to serve, and fit-again Billy Sass-Davies.

Rod McDonald, too, is a potential rival for a place. But O’Riordan was full of praise for the stand-in skipper after the draw with Wimbledon.

He added: “Rod really helped me through the game. I can learn a lot from him, he talks a lot through the game so it is good to play next to him.  

“I played against a lot of physical strikers (in Scotland), and I think that is going to be similar to League Two.

“It’s just about not being bullied – last year I found it difficult in League One. Just having a consistent run of games will have helped me and I aim to continue that here.”