Airdrie boss Ian Murray says they're in talks with Kilmarnock over keeping striker Kyle Connell on until the end of this season.
The 19-year-old has impressed since moving from Rugby Park on loan in the summer, scoring three times this season - including a winner against leaders Falkirk - which took the Diamonds up to third in League One (though East Fife's win yesterday dropped them down to fourth).
Murray says the short-term deal was always agreed with a view to reviewing it in January, and he hopes to get something agreed within the next few days.
He sad: "We expect Kyle to be with us, we're hopeful that will be done in the next few days.
"It was always the plan, it was always a short-term on to see how he felt about it, how we felt about it, and he has done really well.
"I see no reason why Kyle would want to go back, and we don't want to lose him, so I'm very hopeful that will be done.
"He's done brilliant. He's 19 and he's playing up there on his own sometimes - he's got to lead the line against experienced centre-halves but he's playing beyond his years.
"He never gives defenders a minute's rest, he's constantly niggling them, he goes for aerial balls, he puts himself about, and he also adds quality sometimes.
"For him to come in and do so well in such a short space of time is really great. Number one, it's great for him, it's great for us, and it's great for Kilmarnock."
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