Carlisle United midfielder Russell Penn looks set to extend his loan stay with Gateshead.

The former York man's first month in the north east is up tomorrow with Penn having made five appearances for Neil Aspin's side.

The 30-year-old impressed in Gateshead's 2-0 win at Maidstone on Saturday and Keith Curle says the summer signing is benefiting from playing first-team football in the National League.

The Blues boss said: "I've spoken to Russell and obviously he's got one eye on how we're doing, and he sees we're functioning.

"He's a fantastic professional, a good character, and he's getting 90 minutes of football week-in, week-out, which is the only thing he was missing.

"If he's happy and they're happy we've agreed for him to extend his loan, but if need be we know we've got a player who's up to match tempo and would now be available to come back at 24 hours notice."

Heed boss Neil Aspin said: "He [Penn] has become a really important player for us."

Curle will be without in-form skipper Danny Grainger for next weekend's visit of Crawley.

The left-back, who has scored in each of United's last four games, is suspended after receiving his fifth booking of the season at Stevenage.

Grainger's fitness will also be assessed this week after he was subbed late in the game with a groin problem.

Curle said: "Danny felt it tightening up and said he said he couldn't turn and sprint.

"I said, 'Danny you haven't been able to turn and sprint for the last 12 years, mate'.

"But he's done the right thing - we say to all the players, whenever you feel something, don’t be a soldier, don’t stay out there and make it worse."

David Atkinson, meanwhile, is expected to be out for the next three weeks after suffering a calf tear in training last week.

Curle said he will assess any other knocks in his squad before deciding whether to arrange a reserve friendly this week to give Alex McQueen another outing.

Jack Egan's opener couldn't prevent United's youth team going down to a 4-1 defeat to Preston.