CRYSTAL Palace boss George Burley says he is keen to keep Blackburn Rovers’ ball-juggling champion Alex Marrow until the end of the season.

Marrow, who signed for Rovers in 2008 after he was spotted winning a local ‘keepy-uppy’ competition, joined Crystal Palace on loan until January at the start of the season and the versatile 20-year-old has impressed in nine appearances for the Championship club.

Burley has now opened the door for Marrow to extend his stay at Crystal Palace after a man of the match performance against QPR on Saturday, but admits a decision on his future is unlikely before the turn of the year.

Marrow’s loan from Ewood Park expires on January 3 and many Palace fans have already called on Burley to extend it until the end of the season or sign him permanently before his contract at Blackburn runs out in the summer.

“A lot of those things will be decided in January,” said Eagles boss Burley.

“It will be down not just to myself but the player and their own club as well. Alex has certainly done very well for us so far though.

“He is very much a 100 per cent man no matter what position he plays.

“He is strong and quick and he has done really well for us.

“Midfield is his favourite position but he has shown how good he is at full back and centre half as well.”

Marrow, who stands at 6ft 1in, has yet to make a senior appearance for Rovers and spent last season on loan at Oldham Athletic – scoring one goal in 34 games for the League One side.