Patrick Brough is today set to extend his loan with Salford City after Keith Curle decided against bringing him back into Carlisle's promotion push.

Curle has opted not to use the 20-year-old despite the recent injury to fellow left-back and captain Danny Grainger.

The Blues boss has used Macaulay Gillesphey and Tom Miller in the position in Grainger's absence, while he switched to a 3-5-2 system at Accrington.

Brough has spent the last two months in National League North with Salford and will now stay there for the rest of the campaign - although Curle did not rule out a longer-term future at United for the Silloth man.

United's manager said: "Part of Patrick's development is that he needs to be playing football.

"He's playing, progressing, and we're monitoring his performances.

"He's had a period of time at the club where he's been in and around the squad and not playing.

"The important thing now is that he maintains his level of performance that shows he's head and shoulders above the level he's playing at.

"He's still training with us and at the minute he's doing very well."

Curle, meanwhile, conceded United were not creative enough to break down 10-man Accrington on Saturday.

While the Blues boss said ref Chris Sarginson was right to send off the hosts' Matty Pearson for a "shocking" 11th-minute challenge on Gillesphey, Carlisle failed to take advantage.

Curle said: "You have to give Accrington credit, they defended very well, but I don’t think we gave them enough problems when we had the extra man advantage.

"Sometimes I didn’t think we were assured enough with our passing and movement in the final third to create openings.

"The pitch suited Accrington because it was bereft of quality and it became a slugging match in both boxes, and we didn't have that little bit of quality we needed at the right times.

"There is a level of frustration, but I remember the [previous] run we went on started with a couple of draws and everyone was berating the fact we were drawing away from home...it's another point gained."

United's youth team fell to a 4-0 defeat at Burnley on Saturday, while released Blues striker Derek Asamoah made his debut for Guiseley in their 2-1 win at Macclesfield having joined the Yorkshire club until the end of the season.