Carlisle United boss Keith Curle admits his hopes of keeping loan star James Brown for the season are likely to go to the wire.

The right-back, set to face Yeovil today (Brunton Park, 3pm), is currently with the Blues until the new year.

But Curle says parent club Millwall, who are in talks over a new contract for Brown, are in no hurry to decide on whether he can extend his half-season loan at Brunton Park.

The Championship club are keen for Brown to continue 2017/18 out on loan but United's boss says "a number" of other clubs have been monitoring the 19-year-old during his impressive 13-game spell in Cumbria.

Curle said: "James is talking to his football club, and his agents are doing a lot of negotiations about extending his contract there.

"Within that, part of the agent's job is to notify other people from higher divisions that he's available and been playing games.

"So I know there's been a number of clubs that have come to watch James Brown here while he's been playing.

"To a degree, I understand Millwall's point of view - he's a lad out on loan showing he can comfortably cope with League Two, and for his progression they want to get him as close to the Championship as possible.

"If a League One club comes in, they're well within their rights to give the offer to the boy.

"I like what he's brought to the football club, I like how he's developing and we're in constant contact with Millwall but we can't do anything until the lad signs his contract as well.

"We're glad we're playing a part in his development and we'll do everything we can to continue that. It can get taken out of our hands because the deal we signed is only until [January 1].

"Millwall don't want to extend it now - they want to wait until the end of December to find if there are any other offers on the table.

"So if anyone asks, he's been having a nightmare, costing us goals, and is only playing because there's nobody else!"

Brown will be looking to play his part in a United win today that could inch them closer to League Two's top half.

The 16th v 17th encounter is likely to see Curle recall senior players including Clint Hill, Hallam Hope, Gary Liddle and Richie Bennett.

Only Jason Kennedy remains sidelined for the Blues with the manager saying the midfielder is unlikely to return to action until January.

Curle, meanwhile, will meet the club's chief executive and finance director next week regarding his new year spending power.

"I'm going to try and have a conversation with Nigel [Clibbens] and Suzanne [Kidd] and we'll have a better understanding," Curle said.

"A lot of it will be geared towards the Gillingham [FA Cup] game when we find out after the result if there's going to be a potential benefit [with prize money].

"But it's ongoing. There are variables that affect the budget week-in, week-out. The club has budgeted for a certain amount of support, and I'm mindful that because of our home form we haven't been getting those numbers - that does have an effect on the budget."

Today is United's third game at Brunton Park in eight days and Curle said he "massively" appreciates the financial effect this has on supporters.

"At this time of the year, one thing clubs probably don't want is a bank of home games, when everybody's going to be saving up, buying presents, loading up the credit cards to make sure their kids and family have a nice Christmas," he said.

"Within that there's a level of appreciation and understanding [from us] to serve up entertaining performances they can be proud of and walk away from the stadium enjoying it and talking about what they've just seen."