YORK City boss Jackie McNamara has promised changes for the relegated club’s final Football League fixture at Morecambe on Saturday.

Following dismal defeats to Accrington Stanley (3-0) and Bristol Rovers (4-1), when McNamara fielded ten of the same players in his starting line-ups, it seems certain some will not be afforded another appearance by the ex-Scotland international.

But McNamara also admitted he would be restricted in terms of his selection options due to players the club have been “lumbered” with and the rule that only allows five of City’s seven loan players to be used in a matchday squad.

“There are a few things to look at after last week’s performance but, in a way, we are lumbered with what we have got,” McNamara bemoaned. “We are limited to what we can do in certain positions, but I will still be making changes to the starting line-up.

“I did not anticipate the last two results, even though they were against promotion-chasing teams, because before them we beat Portsmouth when they were in a similar situation, but some of the players’ confidence and heads seem to have gone. It’s the last game and I want to win it and finish on a positive note.

“If we can win, that should be enough, hopefully, to make us finish second-bottom.”

As often happens in final-day dead rubbers across the country, though, McNamara will not throw in a young player for his debut.

City released all their second-year scholars last month, aside from striker Nick Kennedy, who has been given longer to prove he is worth first-year pro terms.

The Minstermen chief does not feel it would be appropriate, however, to expose him to senior football.

“We’re still looking at him and I don’t think it would be right to throw him into this game,” McNamara reasoned. “He’s not ready for the first team yet and what we’re looking at is whether he could develop with the reserves next season and push on.

“He’s got attributes. He has a good attitude and is a strong, quick lad with other things he needs to work on.

“But, with the scholars we have just taken on, there are a couple of strikers with pace as well, so we’re looking at the whole picture.”

Kenny McEvoy, who scored City’s consolation in last weekend’s 4-1 home defeat to Bristol Rovers after coming off the bench, could be handed a first start in 11 games at the Globe Arena with McNamara adding: “He might be in contention.

“He came on and scored in the last match, so it might be a case of seeing whether he can do it from the start.”

Vadaine Oliver is expected to be available again after recovering from a calf problem, but City are likely to still be without two players on the coast.

“We will have to wait and see on Femi (Ilesanmi) with his hamstring and Reece Thompson has had another family issue, so hasn’t trained all week,” the City boss explained.

With City having shipped 86 league goals this season and the Shrimps conceded 90 times, McNamara is expecting an open contest and said: “My first win was against Morecambe and there should be goals because both teams have struggled defensively so, hopefully, we can score more than them.”

Having parted company with St Johnstone-bound Michael Coulson a fortnight before the end of the season, McNamara has decided against releasing any other out-of-contract players prior to the Morecambe trip, pointing out: “Michael Coulson was a different matter because he was injured and had signed a pre-contract agreement with another club, but I think it’s only fair to tell everybody else after this weekend’s game.”

The City manager went on to reveal that the club’s reserve team are likely to play in next season’s Final Third Development League east division, which featured Chesterfield, Doncaster, Gateshead, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Notts County, Rotherham and Scunthorpe this season.

“It’s a good level and will mean our youngsters can play against adults and, those that need games, will get them too,” he said.