Kiwi keeper Max Crocombe has boosted his chances of a Carlisle United deal ahead of the big League Two kick-off.

Blues manager Keith Curle said he wants to extend the trialist's stay after Crocombe impressed in friendlies and training.

Curle refused to confirm whether he was ready to hand a contract to the Oxford player, who has featured against Bradford and Penrith.

But he said the 22-year-old New Zealander has encouraged keeper coach Simon Tracey, who is leading United's search for a gloveman to compete with No1 Mark Gillespie.

Curle said: "I've been impressed with Max.

"There are attributes in his game that I like - his physical stature, how he fills the goal and fills a shirt, and also how he's trained.

"Simon has given me some positive feedback and we're in a situation now where I'm going to speak to Max and his representative to find out if there's room within negotiations to potentially extend his stay."

Curle insisted he would not "rush into" any deal ahead of United's trip to Portsmouth on Saturday.

But with the team set to make the long journey south tomorrow, he will need to make a decision on who will be his substitute keeper at Fratton Park in the next 24 hours.

Curle added: "Would I be happy with Mark Gillespie and one of the young goalkeepers? If that's the case, so be it. One of the younger ones might come in, play a starring role, and sometimes that's how careers start."

The United boss said the ongoing search for a keeper highlighted the difficulty in finding someone who could realistically compete with Gillespie.

Gillespie is believed to have been on Charlton's radar but Curle said he had not been contacted by the League One club about his No1.

While the Blues boss said "one trialist" was still with the club, he did not comment on ex-Leicester frontman Harry Panayiotou's fate.

Curle, meanwhile, says talks are progressing "at managing director level" over another possible signing ahead of Saturday's opener.

But United may have to begin the season without big frontman Jabo Ibehre, who is said to be "touch and go" after a knee problem.

"He jarred his knee," Curle said. "There is a little bit of bruising but it's responding very well."

Ibehre trained yesterday but Curle added: "I'm mindful of the fact I don't want to be without him for a longer period."

But Curle insisted Shaun Brisley would be available after an ankle injury suffered in training.

And the manager said Joe McKee is fit despite the eye injury the midfielder suffered at Penrith on Monday.

Defender Michael Raynes is back in training after the birth of his daughter.

Curle, meanwhile, said United are "still negotiating" with Alex McQueen, who is still to decide on his future after turning down the Blues' initial contract offer.

"If Alex chooses to go elsewhere, we would be entitled to a form of compensation," Curle added. "For us to waive that, we would have to withdraw our offer to Alex. We're not prepared to do that."

"We've put a lot of time and effort into bringing Alex in and working with him, [but] there does come a point where you have to say the player doesn't see his future here, and we can't carry on paying somebody that doesn't want to play for us."