CHAMPIONSHIP strugglers Blackpool are hoping to extend the loan of Wanderers teenager Niall Maher and maybe make his move permanent in the summer.

The 19-year-old has made two substitute appearances for the Seasiders so far and his current one-month loan ends after today's trip to Blackburn Rovers.

But Bloomfield Road boss Lee Clark is an admirer of the defender who was part of the Whites youth side that reached the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals in 2013 and has already opened talks about prolonging his stay on the Fylde coast.

Maher is contracted to Wanderers until the summer of 2016 but is yet to make the breakthrough at first-team level.

Clark told the Blackpool Gazette: "We are in conversation with Bolton at this moment in time to make that until the end of the season.

“I think there’s an opportunity coming up for him to start some games.

“I think he showed his quality and we believe he can be a good player.

"He has time on his contract left at Bolton but he’s a player that we would like to try and keep.

"That dialogue will have to come with Bolton first and that will happen in the next few weeks.”