TURKISH under-20 international Levent Yalcin could return to the York City bench after failing to impress player-manager Chris Brass against Canvey Island.

Brass handed Yalcin his first start of the season during Saturday's 0-0 home draw but replaced the 19-year-old striker with youth-team front-man Robbie Haw on 80 minutes.

Afterwards, the City boss pointed out that Yalcin had not taken his opportunity in the same way as fellow teenagers David Stockdale and Sean Davies have done recently.

Brass said: "Lev was a bit up and down and you have got to come in and take your chance. By the standards he is capable of, his performance was a bit frustrating.

"Sean Davies had a good performance again and David Stockdale was quite solid and it's all about taking that opportunity. Lev has to take his because you don't get too many in football.

"We want him to get goals as well and know he has a lot to offer but you have to produce when it comes to the crunch."

Yalcin was deputising in attack for Andy Bishop, who was not risked because of a calf injury.

Joint top scorer Bishop is likely to return for Saturday's trip to table-topping Barnet although player-coach Lee Nogan is unlikely to figure because of a late rib injury sustained against Canvey.

Brass hinted that he might be ready to restore recent right-winger Robinson to his central attacking role at Underhill rather than starting Yalcin again and even mentioned Haw, 17, as a possibility after a lively ten-minute substitute display on his home debut.

The City boss said: "Robbo could go back up there and we might have to shake things up again. If we are now without Lee I am glad we did not risk Andy because if we lose any two of Paul Robinson, Andy Bishop or Lee Nogan, it lessens our attacking options.

"Young Robbie Haw did exceptionally well though. He's been training with the first team and deserved his chance.

"He's got good feet and is tenacious. He's another one we can welcome into the squad because he did not look out of place."

Brass was, however, left lamenting his side's lack of a ruthless streak against Canvey after seeing his players fail to transfer their superior possession into goals.

Only top two Barnet and Carlisle, along with Canvey and North Yorkshire neighbours Scarborough, have now conceded less goals than the Minstermen's 16 this season.

But lowly Leigh RMI and Forest Green are the only two sides to have scored less than City's tally of 13 goals from 14 matches - a worrying statistic reminiscent of last season's relegation campaign.

Brass said: "We've only been beaten once in seven matches and, even though it was not the result we wanted, at least it keeps a bit of momentum going. We have got to be a bit more ruthless though.

"If you take away the seven goals we conceded in two games at Gravesend and Hereford we would have a good statistic but what we have got to work on is putting away our chances. There are goals in the side and we have got attacking options with Bryan Stewart, Andy Bishop, Paul Robinson, Lev Yalcin, Lee Nogan, Paul Groves and Darren Dunning but we need to kill teams off."

Brass is now hoping to extend David McGurk's loan stay at Bootham Crescent after the end of his initial month.

McGurk was named as a substitute against Canvey because of Davies' fine performance as his deputy at Franborough and because he had only trained for a couple of days after a rib injury.

But Brass is still keen to keep the 22-year-old defender and was talking to Darlington today. He also hopes they will agree to him playing in the FA Cup for City.

Updated: 10:40 Monday, October 18, 2004