Manchester United Youngster In Demand After Goal of the Season Contender

Carlisle United manager Graham Kavanagh will plead with Manchester United to allow teenage striker Tom Lawrence to extend his loan deal at the club beyond 4 January.

The 19-year-old provided a sumptuous performance in his side's 4-1 win over Tranmere Rovers last weekend, marked by two goal of the season contenders which has his manager desperate to prolong the striker's stay at Brunton Park.

After the win, Kavanagh admitted Lawrence's performance may have put him in the shop window for clubs in League One and beyond, but remains hopeful of striking a deal with the Premier League champions that will at least ensure Lawrence is around for Carlisle's FA Cup third round clash against Sunderland.

"I'm going to have to speak to Manchester United and get something done," Kavanagh told News and Star.

"He has only played three games but got better in each one and his performance on Saturday was of really high quality.

"But I'm not getting carried away. It's the start of a long process for him and he's only learning at the moment. We are giving him that opportunity. At his stage it's important to be playing and we're giving him that opportunity."

Lawrence, who has represented Wales at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21, level joined the third tier outfit at the end of November as United sent a number of young players out to gain first team football opportunities.

Michael Keane started two games for the first team last season before a loan switch to Leicester City and has recently returned to the Championship, joining Derby County until the New Year.

His brother Will has joined up with fellow United forward Nick Powell at Wigan Athletic until New Year's Day. The 20-year-old missed the entire 2012/13 season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but scored four times for the club's under-21 side this season before joining the Latics.