CROCKED winger Josh Carson will miss the start of York City’s new season but is determined to return from cruciate ligament damage ahead of schedule.

The Northern Ireland international’s 2013/14 campaign was curtailed after suffering the nightmare injury in March’s 1-0 victory at Portsmouth.

His pre-season has largely comprised strengthening work with weights and on bikes but Carson is already pencilling in City’s haul to Plymouth on November 29 as a possible comeback date.

The 21-year-old winger scored in last season’s corresponding fixture and is taking encouragement from the recoveries team-mates Michael Coulson and Dan Parslow have made from the same problem.

Coulson was assisted by the aid of a synthetic ligament after damaging his cruciate for a third time. He returned to duty in less than half a year, while Parslow featured in the final pre-season friendly against Sheffield United - nine months from his setback.

Carson said: “I want to be back by the end of November. I’ve been told December or January but I want to be back quicker than expected, without putting myself at risk again.

“Coulo came back after five-and-a-half months and has been giving me a lot of encouragement, as has Dan Parslow. It’s good to see people who have had the same problem, been there and got through it.”

His injury at Fratton Park means Carson has finished each of the last two campaigns in the treatment room, missing City’s play-off push a year after breaking his foot during the previous season’s battle against relegation.

Carson added: “Last season was more painful because the one before I knew I’d broken my foot and that I would be back in two months.

“The end of the season seems to be a little curse for me so, hopefully, I can change that.

“It was devastating sitting in the stands, watching the boys and knowing I could do nothing to help against Fleetwood in the play-offs. We were the better team in the second leg. It was just the first match that let us down.”