COLCHESTER United will retain loanee Jake Turner's services until at least the end of January.

And the U's are in discussions with his parent club Newcastle United about keeping the goalkeeper at the JobServe Community Stadium for longer.

Turner saw his initial loan period at Colchester end, at the start of the month.

But the Premier League club have allowed Turner to now remain at the U's until at least the end of the month.

In that period, the U's have important League Two games against Barrow, Sutton United, Salford and Swindon Town.

There is a possibility that Colchester could extend Turner's loan period further, until the end of the season.

Gazette:

Colchester head coach Hayden Mullins said: "We're just trying to speak to them about extending options and stuff like that.

"They've allowed us to extend initially now while we're negotiating the options with them."

Turner has made 12 league and cup appearances for Colchester this season following his loan move from Newcastle, last summer.

He initially had to wait patiently for his chance to shine in their first team.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper got his opportunity, following Shamal George's rib injury against Stevenage, last November.

Since coming on in that game at the Lamex Stadium, he has started Colchester's last nine games, in all competitions.

The former Morecambe shot-stopper is yet to play a senior competitive game for the Magpies after signing for them from Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 2019.