Curle pre-Yeovil

Last updated : 17 December 2016 By Paddock Pundit

From the N&S

The Blues host Yeovil at Brunton Park tomorrow - before the squad head off for their Christmas party.

United have a chance of returning to the top of League Two at the start of the festive season.

The Glovers clash is followed by visits to Crewe and Notts County on December 26 and December 31 respectively.

Curle said: "Nine points over the next three games would be ideal no matter where you are in the league.

"That is what is on offer and because of that there is a necessity we prepare for the rigours of the three games in a short period of time.

"I'm confident the players will look after themselves. They've got their Christmas do this weekend and it's always good for them to go to their Christmas do on the back of a good performance."

Curle said he has not given any thought to rotating his squad to ensure they remain fresh throughout such a busy period.

His numbers may be reduced tomorrow if Mike Jones and Danny Grainger are ruled out with injury.

While United are two points off the top, Yeovil are 10th, two points adrift of the play-off places.

The visitors will include former Blues favourite Francois Zoko.

Curle said: "They will enjoy the big pitch, they've got quite a settled team at the minute and that's helped them with their level of consistency.

"There is a familiarity about the football club. I think they will play 4-3-3 and they don't shy away from that - they start games to be solid and quite defensively-minded, to get something out of the game, but they can be slightly more adventurous and go 4-2-4.

"Francois has a good affection for Carlisle. When I brought Notts County here [in 2012] he scored in a 4-0 win and he was adamant he wasn't going to celebrate in front of the Paddock.

"Having now worked in front of the Paddock I can understand why!"

Curle said he was hoping for more vocal support from the United faithful this weekend.

The Blues boss would not, though, be drawn too far on his intentions in the January transfer window, amid suggestions his spending power will be limited.

"I'm very happy with the players I've got within the squad, and there's still a lot of room for improvement among those players," said Curle, who has Cardiff's Newport loan striker Rhys Healey among his possible targets.

"We made no secret about being very happy with the recruitment we did in the summer.

"It's there as fact that the teams that got promoted last season went out and increased the quality of their squad. And we are as a football department always striving to improve.

"I've had a brief sit-down [with the board] but it's an ever-changing environment - things are always changing that can have a knock-on effect that will eventually come to the football department.

"But there's no stress, no drama. I'm fully aware that as and when needed I will get told what is available to spend. In the meantime I've been told it's business as usual which is scouting, looking to recruit players and identify players we think can improve us.

"We're looking not only for proven quality but emerging quality that we use and they use as a stepping stone for their career. We are scouring Under-21s, Under-23s, non-league...we've got good reaches into lots of areas.

"I want to go shopping, but increased revenue from crowds can have a knock-on effect. Players going out on loan and continuing with those loans also generates monies that can be made available."