SHANE Lowry is willing to consider extending his stay with Plymouth Argyle until the end of the current Coca-Cola Championship campaign – which is something that Paul Sturrock will be glad to hear.

The Pilgrims' manager has expressed his concern about a potential shortage of defensive players at Home Park after Christmas. If Argyle can retain the services of Lowry, whom they borrowed from Aston Villa in a three-month loan deal in mid-September, it would soften the blow of being without the services of other defenders.

Lowry is one of three left-sided central defenders in the Pilgrims' first-team squad. The other two have not yet been able to put in a 90-minute shift in the Championship this term.

Chris Barker has not played any first-team football this season, due to a torn calf muscle he suffered just prior to the start of the campaign. A comeback does not seem to be imminent – Argyle do not yet know when the experienced Yorkshireman will be able to return to full training.

Réda Johnson has recovered from the knee injury which he sustained during his first senior starting appearance for Argyle in September, but he is due to be abroad for much of January. He seems certain to be part of Bénin's squad at the African Nations' Cup finals in Angola.

In the circumstances, the Pilgrims will be delighted if Lowry is able to remain at Home Park into the new year. Sturrock hopes to be able to hang on to the talented 20-year-old for the rest of the season, and the Villa youngster is not opposed to the idea.

The Perth-born defender knows that he needs to be playing regular first-team football to increase his chances of featuring in Australia's squad at the World Cup finals next summer, and Argyle are giving him an opportunity that he is unlikely to be offered in the Barclays Premier League with Villa.

"The Championship is a really good league for me to be playing in," Lowry said. "It's giving me a lot of exposure, and all I can do is get my head down and work hard over however many more months I have on loan here."

When Lowry was asked if he would be willing to consider staying with the Greens until May, he replied: "Yes, I would definitely think about it. I'm playing games, week in, week out, here. I have a spot in the team here, and I think I've been doing all right in my personal performances.

"It's out of my hands, really. It's between Plymouth Argyle and Aston Villa, but the manager here [Sturrock] has asked me if I would be interested in staying. I said I want to keep playing games."

As things stand, Lowry's last game for the Pilgrims will be the home fixture against Coventry City on December 19. The Sky Blues' visit is also due to be the final match of right-back David Gray's three-month loan transfer from Manchester United.

Gray, who was also borrowed by Plymouth in the second half of last season, has been in fine form for the Devon team in recent weeks – as has Lowry – but he may not see much action between now and December 19. He was unable to play for the Pilgrims in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Leicester City, having succumbed to a hip injury which has been bothering him for a while.

"David is going to be out for the next couple of weeks," Sturrock disclosed. "He has got this chronic problem in the hip and groin area. He has not been training and then has had to play on Saturdays, which has not been ideal.

"Manchester United and ourselves had a chat about it, and we feel a rest will benefit the player. The quicker we get him back totally fit, the better."

The Pilgrims have not had much luck when it comes to keeping their right-backs fit this term. Gray has had his hip problem, while David McNamee and Darcy Blake have also suffered from injuries. Karl Duguid filled the role at Leicester at the weekend, but he was unable to complete the match because of a strained calf muscle.

Argyle will have the benefit of Blake's availability when they take on Barnsley at Home Park on Saturday, however. The on-loan Cardiff City player has served a three-match suspension, and will return to the Pilgrims' squad.

Jim Paterson, who can play in midfield or at left-back, may miss out against the Tykes, though. The versatile Scotsman, who was included in Argyle's starting XI against Leicester, limped off the Walkers Stadium pitch last Saturday with a hamstring injury.