Defender James Brown joined United on his first senior loan deal away from parent club Millwall at the end of August and has since made 13 appearances for the Blues having established himself in the right back position.
And manager Keith Curle confirmed on Friday afternoon that he would be interested in extending the short-term deal should Millwall give the go-ahead as we head into December.
“I know that he’s talking to his football club and that his agent is doing the same,” Curle told us. “I’m sure the agent will be telling people in higher divisions that James is available and playing games regularly.
“A number of clubs have been here to watch him, and I understand the Millwall point of view in that he’s been sent out on loan to show he can comfortably cope with football at League Two level.
“For his further progression I would think that the parent club will want to get him as close to the Championship as possible, so if a League One club comes in they are well within their right to give the offer to the boy.
“Every player has a loyalty to a football club, but they also have a loyalty to themselves, and if they get an opportunity to go and play at a League One club then you can’t blame them if they take it.”
Speaking more about his attributes, he said: “I like what he does and I like what he’s brought to the football club. We have had some contact with Millwall but we can’t do anything with him at the moment until his new contract is sorted.
“When we get to the middle of December we’ll put him under house arrest so that nobody can talk to him. We’ll disguise him on Saturdays as well so that nobody knows who he is.
“If anybody asks, tell them he’s had a nightmare, he’s costing us goals and that he’s only playing because there’s nobody else.
“Joking aside, we’re pleased that we’re part of his development but Millwall are in a position where they don’t want to extend his stay with us at the moment. They want to wait until the end of December to see if there are other offers to take him elsewhere. That’s fair enough.”
“The pleasing thing about having got him here is that it shows the recruitment process we go through is a good one,” he concluded. “We’ve picked up a player from the Millwall development squad and he’s playing his part.
“We’re always looking for players who can make us better and it’s a massive plus that we’re looking in the right areas. I’m out and watching a lot of games and sometimes you can get 20 minutes into them and wonder why you’re there.
“There’s no intensity or tempo and you don’t learn much from it. Now and then you get to see some very good young players, and that’s what we found with James. We spotted him, gave him time to come up here and settle, and he’s since taken his chance with both hands. He hasn’t looked back since then and, hopefully, he’ll get to continue his stay with us beyond the end of his current deal.”
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