KEITH Curle has sent a firm message to out-of-favour Angelo Balanta: Work harder or you'll have no future at Carlisle United.

Curle told the News & Star he was frustrated with the Colombian player who has made just 10 appearances so far this season.

Balanta has often failed to make the bench in recent weeks, his last outing coming against Bristol Rovers last November.

And despite this winter having extended the 25-year-old's short-term contract until the end of the season, Blues manager Curle said Balanta must do more.

"He's not a key part of my plan," Curle said.

"Angelo is a squad player that needs to work harder. And he's been told that.

"Sometimes you find certain players thinking they're doing extra and working hard enough, but they still need to raise the bar and do more.

"I know Angelo's very frustrated at his level of game-time. I'm very frustrated because I don't see Angelo working as hard as I think he can.

"Angelo won't find a more appreciative coach of his ability and skill sets, but he still needs to show me more.

"He's got a short period of time now to either prove me right - that he can do what I think he can - or start paving the way for his future elsewhere."

Attacking midfielder Balanta joined Carlisle last summer after leaving Bristol Rovers, but has managed just seven starts, scoring one goal against Dagenham last September.

He was previously with QPR and MK Dons.

Curle added: "Give Angelo the ball and he comes alive. When he hasn't got the ball, there's a tendency to switch off and not be able to be part and parcel of the team framework.

"It's a luxury, but unfortunately a luxury we can't sustain. If you gave him that free role, [he would be] probably one of the better players in the division.

"But where we are team-wise, we're not able to facilitate that luxury of a roaming player."

Curle, meanwhile, has cooled talk of a deal for trialist left-back Marcus Williams.

The experienced former Sheffield United and Scunthorpe player has been training with United but has been absent this week after his partner gave birth.

But while Curle did not rule out another look at Williams, he said the return to fitness of Danny Grainger could make it more difficult for the 29-year-old, who is a free agent after a spell in India.

Curle said: "At the minute Marcus is at the bedside doing father duties, and we hope mother and child are well.

"On that left-hand side we have got the benefit now of having Danny Grainger fit and available, Patrick Brough back in the fold, Macaulay Gillesphey settling somewhat and adding a goal threat.

"You'd probably say that for [Williams] to come in and earn a contract, the benchmark has been set.

"But we have a policy here, having identified his skill sets as being worth a look, when it's right for him to come back."

Curle, meanwhile, said he has started "initial" talks with owner John Nixon over extending the contracts of his backroom staff.

But he insisted no discussions were currently ongoing about players' deals.