PORT Vale boss Neil Aspin is keen to extend the loan stay of Cherries midfielder Ben Whitfield.

The 21-year-old's temporary stint with the League Two strugglers is due to end in January but Aspin is hoping to keep him on board.

Whitfield, who previously spent time at Yeovil and Kidderminster, is currently sidelined with an ankle injury which he sustained at the end of October.

Aspin told the Sentinel: “He is a good player who will get better. He was improving and was becoming more involved in the games.

"His fitness was improving and he has a really good attitude so he has a lot of qualities which we would like to have at the club.”

Whitfield has featured regularly for the Valiants since being brought in by previous boss Michael Brown, who was replaced by Aspin at the beginning of last month.

A volley in a 3-1 win over Cheltenham resulted in Whitfield being shortlisted for the League Two goal-of-the-month award for October.

Aspin hopes the youngster will be back to full fitness in early December.

The manager added: “He is making progress. Without putting him under pressure, you would like to think that in a couple of weeks he would be in with a chance of playing again.”