YORK City's on-loan defender David McGurk has been declared fit for Saturday's home game against Canvey Island and looks set to extend his temporary stay at Bootham Crescent.

McGurk has recovered from the rib injury that caused him to miss the 1-1 draw at Farnborough, and Darlington have also indicated that they are prepared to let the 22-year-old centre back stay with the Minstermen after his loan expires at the weekend.

Darlington are expected to bolster their injury-struck defence this week and know that McGurk would be on a 24-hour recall during any extended loan stay at City.

Sheffield Wednesday called striker Jon Shaw back to Hillsborough under similar circumstances last season.

City boss Chris Brass said: "It's David's last game on Saturday but he's hopefully going to stay longer. It's a matter of Darlington getting organised at their end with extra bodies and, then it's just a matter of fingers crossed they don't lose any more defenders at the weekend.

"He's trained with us this week and had no adverse reaction so he will be okay for the weekend. We are looking to get him for an extra month but would take him for as long as possible because he has done a good job for us."

McGurk formed solid centre-back partnerships with Brass and former Darlington team-mate Gary Pearson for six games before damaging his ribs against Morecambe.

Teenage defender Sean Davies deputised for McGurk at Farnborough and performed well but is likely to make way against Canvey Island.

Brass has also welcomed the news that hot-shot Lee Boylan will be missing from Canvey's line-up on Saturday.

Boylan has plundered more than 150 goals in the last three years for the Essex club, including seven in 11 Conference matches this season.

But the former West Ham striker is now sidelined until the New Year because of a fractured ankle.

Brass said: "He's somebody who's scored a lot of goals and is a decent player so it does give you an added bonus when a team's best player is out. He's a danger and their main threat but I'm sure they have got others to call on."

The draw for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, which will feature City, will take place on Monday morning.

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, October 14, 2004