ON-LOAN striker Johan ter Horst is aiming to score ten goals to keep York City in the National League.

Ter Horst, who has arrived from Hull City until the end of the season, is hoping to make his debut in Saturday's home game against play-off chasing Barrow.

The Minstermen are currently five points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table with 18 games to play.

"Obviously, York are sort of struggling near the bottom so, if I come in and do well hopefully, in turn, that will help them get out of the relegation zone and stay in the league," he said.

"You look at a player like (Dover's) Ricky Miller who scores 25 goals in half a season," he added. "I would just be happy to get ten and maybe that could be enough to avoid the drop? Who knows?

"If I come here and do well, it puts me in the shop window," he said. "It's a good chance for me to get out and play some proper football."

Born in Kent, after his father moved to England from Holland, ter Horst has yet to play for Hull City's first team - nearly three years after being snapped up from Ryman League division one south part-timers Folkestone Victoria where he had scored 26 goals in his first full season.

Now aged 21, he will be out-of-contract in the summer and recently spent a period on trial at National League leaders Lincoln City.

York manager Gary Mills swooped for the diminutive young striker after banishing former Leeds United striker Robbie McDaid to the youth team, parting company with Richard Brodie, and losing the services of Rhys Murphy who was recalled by Forest Green at the end of a loan spell.

He is now competing with Amari Morgan-Smith, Jon Parkin, Scott Fenwick, and Daniel Nti for a place in attack but can also operate as a winger.

"I have played the majority of the time at Hull on the wing but I definitely like to play up front, off a big man, running in behind," he said. "That's probably more me.

"I am not going to win many headers or hold it up particularly well against the big centre half but I am quite pacey so I like to run in behind!"

Defender Hamza Bencherif, meanwhile, is also expected to make his debut against Barrow after arriving on loan from Wrexham on Tuesday.