LEE Nogan is losing his battle to be fit to face Canvey Island at Bootham Crescent tomorrow.

York City's 35-year-old player-coach is still struggling to shrug off the twisted ankle he sustained in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Farnborough and could also be suffering from fatigue after playing seven games in 21 days for the Minstermen.

Teenage striker Lev Yalcin is therefore expected to start in place of the former Reading and Grimsby striker.

City boss Chris Brass said: "Lee is still struggling and we will have to check on whether he will be available. A lot of our players have had seven games in three weeks and that's difficult."

The punishing recent schedule saw Brass give his players the first two days off training this week and City's player-manager was pleased to see them return fully recharged.

He said: "I told them to get totally rested up and now they are champing at the bit. I think they have missed being here and that's good because when things aren't going right players don't want to be at clubs.

"They are looking forward to tomorrow. We are in a run of one defeat in six and we need to keep that going.

"We are not leaping up the league but we have not lost touch. If we beat Canvey then that's another team we will have caught up."

Kevin Donovan continues to be sidelined with the groin problem that has kept him out of action for more than a month and Brass is hoping that Paul Robinson can find the inspirational right-wing form at Bootham Crescent that has eluded him in the Minstermen's last two away matches.

Brass said: "Kevin's injury is still not settling down and it's a waiting game but Robbo's come in and done a good job. I would prefer him up front because that's his natural position but I think he comes into his own at home on the right wing when he gets a bit more freedom.

"Away from home he's finding it a bit tougher when teams are on top of him more."

Brass will also be encouraging striker Andy Bishop to continue the goalscoring streak that has seen him net three times in four Conference matches.

The City boss said: "He's set himself a target of 20 for the season and I would like to think he can get there. He was as frustrated as anybody early on but three in four is a good statistic and if he can carry on at that rate other teams will begin to worry about him."

Updated: 10:27 Friday, October 15, 2004