BURNLEY will lose Keith Lowe for the busy Christmas and New Year period when his three-month loan ends this weekend.

But Clarets boss Steve Cotterill is still hopeful of bringing the Wolves defender back to Turf Moor for the rest of the season once January's transfer window opens.

Lowe's initial 93-day loan runs out following this weekend's tough trip to face promotion chasers Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

"When we first spoke about Keith all that time back, we probably could have had him (on loan) for the rest of the season," said Cotterill today.

"But because he was done as an emergency loan you can't do that, so he will be going back just because he has to, not because we want to.

"He has had his 93 days and we understand that. However, we would like to extend the loan for the rest of the season, so we are hoping we can do that when the window re-opens."

Cotterill swooped for Lowe back in late August to bolster his defensive numbers. And the inexperienced teenager, with only 12 starts behind him at Molineux, was given an immediate taste of first team action at Turf Moor when Wayne Thomas suffered a cruciate knee injury at Reading three days after his arrival.

The 20-year-old made his full debut in September's stalemate at Preston and has since grown in stature with each of his 17 appearances.