GOALSCORING hero Otis Khan is open to the idea of spending a prolonged period of time at Holker Street to help him extend his stay at League One Sheffield United.

The 20-year-old winger joined Barrow on a youth loan from League One United at the end of October, making his full debut and bagging AFC’s consolation goal in last week’s 3-1 home defeat by Grimsby Town.

After producing an encouraging performance against the Mariners, better was to follow, as he produced two deadly finishes in Barrow’s 4-0 demolition of Torquay on Saturday, when his scintillating attacking display earned him the man-of-the-match accolade.

Following that superb performance, Bluebirds boss Darren Edmondson revealed his desire to keep hold of Khan for as long as possible if he can keep producing such good form and if the Blades are willing to allow him to continue his development in Furness.

Khan, who has made a couple of substitute first-team appearances for Sheffield United, says gaining National League first-team experience trumps under-21s football.

And he gets the best of both worlds because, if Barrow are not in midweek action, he spends the early part of the week training with United before linking back up with Edmondson’s squad later in the week.

Khan’s Blades contract expires at the end of the season, and he said: “If I’m playing at Sheffield in the under-21s, it’s a lot better playing in a more competitive league (in this case referring to the National League) – you are playing for three points every week rather than playing reserve-team football.

“My main objective is to play really well here so I can get into the first team and eventually play regularly at Sheffield and hopefully to get a new contract.

“I’ll stay with Barrow for as long as I can to improve my development for when I get back to Sheffield.

“I’d like to stay with Barrow for as long as I can really, to help them out and to keep improving.

“If Sheffield need to recall me for anything – if they see me improving at Barrow – then I can go back to Sheffield and play in the first team. I’m more than happy to do that.

“But if I was just to play in the reserve teams at Sheffield, I think I’d stay at Barrow so I can improve more.”

Khan, who hails from Ashton-under-Lyne, enjoyed an outstanding footballing education, having joined Manchester United at the age of six.

He stayed with the Premier League giants for a decade, joining the Blades at 16.

After arriving at Holker Street the youngster made his AFC debut as a substitute midway through the first half of the 4-1 defeat at Wrexham on October 31. In the next game, he arrived from the bench again, during the second half of the 3-1 reverse at Guiseley.

In assessing his four-game contribution, Khan added: “The last couple of games have gone really well for me, although the first two or three games weren’t the best because we lost.

“But, from a personal point-of-view, in the last two games my confidence has really been upped and I feel like I’m hitting the ground running and that I’m improving and more confident in every game.”

Khan looks certain to retain his first-team place when inconsistent Barrow continue their campaign at sixth-placed Dover Athletic on Saturday.

On Saturday, he netted in the ninth and 41st minutes with clinical finishes to hand his side a 2-0 half-time lead against the Gulls. With regards to such goalscoring feats, he said: “I’ve always had that in my locker really.

“When I’m in and around the box I try to slide someone in if they’ve got a better opportunity than me.

“If not, I’ll go for goal. I’m never scared of taking that opportunity because I know I’m good enough to do it and I believe in myself to score.”