YORK City boss Chris Brass has challenged his young defenders to prove they can keep him out of the team.

Brass will be suspended for the next four games against Kidderminster, Scunthorpe, Torquay and Yeovil after the appeal against his red card at Boston was rejected and he will now watch from the dugout to see how his back-line performs without him.

Stuart Wise and Sean Davies, who started in last night's 0-0 draw at promotion-chasing Oxford, are set to keep their places for Saturday's trip to Kidderminster with Chris Smith earning a recall after being given a watching brief on the substitutes' bench at the Kassam Stadium.

Brass said: "I asked Chris Smith to come out and have a look at what organisational skills are required because he will come back in for myself on Saturday. I am sure he will do a good job and it will give him added responsibility.

"He has a lot of pace and I don't know whether Richard Hope will be ready. If he is then he could come into the fray but it would be difficult to drop somebody after a performance like that.

"Stuart Wise came in and did extremely well, as did Sean Davies again. Stuart had a little dip in confidence against Mansfield earlier in the season so we pulled him out and have coaxed him along but he was ready for Oxford and he has showed in the last few weeks that the Stuart Wise of old is back.

"He played with a great deal of confidence, especially in the air, and I have not forgotten that he was a part of what we achieved at the start of the season. It's up to him. He's got to work and be ruthless enough to keep me out of the side then I will have to do the other side of the job.

"My ban will give the young lads an opportunity. When Ii was a kid I wanted to keep people out and that's why I got my chance. If they keep me out then so be it."

Brass has also thrown down the gauntlet to new debutants Jonjo Dickman and Andy Bell, asking them to show their credentials for long-term contracts.

Midfielder Dickman, signed on loan from Sunderland, started last night's game while striker Bell, who has arrived at Bootham Crescent on non-contract terms, enjoyed a lively late appearance as a substitute.

Brass said: "Jonjo is steady and does things simple. He gets in peoples' faces and it was a good debut from him. He was unfortunate not to score and he's somebody I would possibly look to bring in for next season because he could freshen things up.

"Andy only got seven minutes but he certainly ran the channels and showed the enthusiasm we expect from everybody. He's also got a realistic chance. He's on a week-to-week deal but, hopefully, if he impresses between now and the end of the season, he will earn himself a longer contract."

Brass issued a third challenge to Leigh Wood, who returned in a new right-wing back role at the Kassam Stadium after a lengthy lay-off because of a shoulder problem.

The City boss wants Wood to give injured captain Darren Edmondson stiff competition for his place, saying: "Leigh's full of energy and one of the fittest lads at the club so he's suited to that role. He did well and adapted after perhaps finding it difficult for five minutes in the first half.

"When he was aware of where their left-wing back was he cancelled him out especially in the second half. He did a man's job against a very good side who are up there."

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, March 04, 2004