YOUTH team defender Michael Staley, 17, will remain in York City's squad against Canvey Island after appearing on the bench at Farnborough.

He will again be in contention for a substitutes place and has received a ringing endorsement from player-manager Chris Brass.

Staley has yet to make his first-team debut but is highly rated by Brass, who said: "Michael Staley, at this stage, looks like he will have a very good career. He's not a million miles away from being involved and it was touch and go whether he played last Saturday but it was probably the fact that we already had a lot of youngsters in that went against him.

"Sean Davies came in and took his chance and did very well but I would have no qualms about putting Michael in either. He's a very good prospect and getting people like him coming through is like getting new signings."

Davies is likely to make way for fit-again David McGurk, who will be making the last appearance of his one-month loan spell from Darlington.

Brass is still keen to keep McGurk longer and will enter into talks with Darlington manager David Hodgson next week.

City's juniors travel to Bradford City tomorrow, kick-off 11am.

Updated: 10:50 Friday, October 15, 2004