Samir Nabi has vowed he will be ready to take his chance when called upon by manager Keith Curle to play for Carlisle United's first-team.

Nabi was among those to impress for United's reserves on Tuesday in their 2-0 Central League Cup win against Morecambe at Penrith's Frenchfield Park. Nabi scored the Blues' second after trialist Clint Hill had opened the scoring.

Attacking midfielder Nabi has featured only once in a competitive fixture for United so far this term ahead of this Saturday's trip to Crewe since recovering from injury. He came off the bench in Carlisle's 2-0 win at Morecambe in the Checkatrade Trophy.

But the West Brom youth product, who briefly played in India for Delhi Dynamos, is now targeting more minutes with the first-team after catching the eye on Tuesday having scored twice in a 4-0 win at Gateshead in another behind-closed-doors reserve friendly earlier this month.

He said: "It feels good. I know what I'm capable of doing.

"I'm just hopeful that I can get some minutes in the league to show what I'm capable of doing and to keep on kicking on, really."

Asked how it felt not to be involved in first-team fixtures, Nabi said: "It's difficult because I'm a footballer at the end of the day and I want to play.

"But there is a light at the end of the tunnel because I know an opportunity will come eventually. I have just got to be ready when it comes."

Reflecting on his goal-scoring display on Tuesday, Nabi said: "It was a good game to be involved in, I needed the minutes, as well.

"I'm enjoying playing football at the moment so, hopefully, I can keep on playing and hopefully I can get in the team, as well.

"These are the games where I have to show I'm fitter, stronger and I'm capable of playing.

"Coming into these games, I just want to stay fit, stay injury-free and most of all show what I'm capable of doing. I want to show that I'm a goal-scoring threat and that I can get goals."

He added: "Sometimes, these games can frustrate you even more or give you a bit of light [at the end of the tunnel].

"I'm not getting more frustrated, I know can play and I know I'm fit. So, I know, when I do get the chance, I'm ready to take it."

Nabi's 2017/18 campaign hit a major stumbling block before the competitive football had even begun as he was sidelined for their season-opener after coming off the bench in United's final friendly, a 3-1 win over League One's Blackburn.

"It was a bit frustrating [and] disappointing. Going into the last pre-season game, I told myself 'don't get injured' and then it ended up happening," he said.

"But I've come out of it, feeling fitter and stronger."