Bookies have slashed Carlisle United's promotion odds after the Blues' encouraging 10-game unbeaten start to the League Two season.

Keith Curle's side are now as short as 6/4 to storm into League One by the end of the season.

They were previously 4/1, but their impressive start to the campaign has caught the eye.

The Blues, currently seventh, are also now 10/1 to win the title.

And their chances of making the play-offs are rated 2/1 by SkyBet.

The shortening odds reflect the positive steps being made by Curle's side, who remained unbeaten after Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Doncaster.

Portsmouth remain 9/4 favourites for the title with current leaders Plymouth 13/2.

Manager Curle, meanwhile, will resume his assessment of Derek Asamoah and an unnamed ex-Chelsea player in training today.

Curle said: "He [Asamoah] is still training with us and has been working tirelessly to get his fitness up to scratch."

A deal, meanwhile, has been agreed to send another member of the United squad out on loan, but this may not be rubber-stamped until next week.

Curle said: "The players was going to go out last weekend but the club involved have been knocked out of the FA Cup.

"That meant there was a blank weekend for them, so there was no point in them registering a player, paying for him for a week and then not being able to use him.

"But as far as I'm concerned the deal's still going ahead. The player needs to go out and play some games."

United's hierarchy, meanwhile, remained unavailable for comment yesterday on the "billionaire" overseas investment situation.

Tomorrow sees the 500th day of the saga, which started with the announcement of a "genuine and firm" approach on May 19 last year.