Keith Curle said he will check on Grant Holt’s situation as he weighs up how best to ease his striker worries at Carlisle United.

The Blues manager refused to rule out the possibility of a dramatic loan move for the Carlisle-born Wigan striker while the Blues are short of firepower.

Ex-Workington Reds player Holt, 34, has returned from a long-term knee injury and is currently in the latter stages of his comeback by playing for the Latics’ Under-21 side.

Asked if the former Norwich favourite, from Harraby, could be an option, Curle said: “It’s something I will go and have a look at, and see where he [Holt] is physically and mentally.

“He’s experienced enough to know those Under-21 games are purely for him to get his match-sharpness to do what he does best, which is leading the line.

“I’ve got respect for Grant Holt - I’ve played against him and know what he offers. I know he’s not had the best of times recently but if you say you’re minus a centre-forward and Grant’s getting back to fitness...you never say never.

“But I wouldn’t sign somebody [purely] because they’re local. They’ve got to fit into the ethos of what we’re trying to create at the football club. No player will walk into this club if I didn’t think it was right for the team.”

Former Premier League striker Holt has never made a secret of his lifelong ambition to play for his home-city club, but Curle is also exploring other options as he seeks to cope without Jabo Ibehre, Charlie Wyke and now Alex Gilliead, who will play the last game of his loan spell at Stevenage tomorrow (3pm ko).

Newcastle youngster Gilliead will join up with England’s Under-20s on Sunday and will be involved in the Elite Cup in Germany until October 13.

That takes him beyond the October 11 end of his 28-day loan with the Blues, with Curle having failed to persuade Newcastle to

withdraw the 19-year-old from the international squad.

Curle said: “I spoke to the Keith Downing at the English FA, and to Paul Simpson at Newcastle - he spoke to the powers-that-be [at St James’ Park] and as a collective they agreed that the best thing for Alex to do was go.

“He was in the [England] squad, came out of it through lack of games, but now he’s got back in and it’s important he doesn’t shy away from his international duties.

“We’ve done the right thing and tried arguing our case, but at the end of the day both the lads are Newcastle players and we do respect that.”

Curle, though, said he is keen to extend the loans of Gilliead and fellow Newcastle teenager Macaulay Gillesphey, possibly until January and then until the end of the season.

The United manager is unlikely to have any additions in time for tomorrow’s game, meanwhile, having been rebuffed with loan approaches for two League One players.

Curle said the shortage of frontmen in his play-off chasing squad could also hand an opportunity to Steven Rigg, who has made only three appearances this season.

“If he gets the opportunity, don’t tell me that Steven Rigg can’t go in there and score goals,” Curle said. “Then it’s a case of earning the right to stay in the team.

“He’s waiting, biding his time but is training his socks off and working hard on his game. Sometimes the opportunity comes when you don’t expect it. You’ve got to make sure you take it.”

Curle said top scorer Ibehre’s hamstring injury is not as serious as first feared but has not put a timescale on his comeback, while Wyke is not yet ready to return after a broken metatarsal.

Eighth-placed United could go fifth tomorrow if they follow up Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Orient with another away victory against Teddy Sheringham’s fifth-bottom Stevenage.