MINSTERMEN midfielder Lee Bullock is training with First Division Cardiff City.

Bullock, 22, arrived in Wales yesterday with Bluebirds boss Lennie Lawrence keen to run the rule over him at close quarters before deciding whether to table a bid for his services.

Lawrence has been unable to watch Bullock in midfield with City boss Chris Brass playing him as a striker in the last six matches and the former Charlton and Luton manager is keen to see him operate in his more natural role.

Cardiff could play him in tomorrow's home reserve game against Swindon but there are international clearance problems to resolve first.

The Welsh club would need to gain clearance to play him tomorrow and then City would also require clearance if he was to return to Bootham Crescent and was selected to play in Saturday's home match with promotion-chasing Mansfield.

Such obstacles mean Bullock is unlikely to play tomorrow and Lawrence may choose to arrange a number of internal matches instead.

City boss Chris Brass said: "He's gone there to train with them this week. It gives the lad an opportunity to impress and everybody knows that they are interested.

"It will give Lennie Lawrence a closer look at him and Lee the chance to look at their set-up. I have said before we would never stand in his way so, fingers crossed, he does well.

"I don't think he will be playing for their reserves and he is due back here on Thursday."

Bullock is out of contract at the end of the season but, as long as he is offered a new deal, City would be entitled to a transfer fee if he leaves in the summer.

The Stockton-born midfielder has scored 26 goals in 183 league and cup appearances since making his debut in 1998.

He is City's longest-serving player and the team's second top scorer this season with six goals.

Player-coach Lee Nogan, who netted in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at table-topping Hull, leads the charts on eight.

Meanwhile, former City striker Neil Woods will be back in the senior limelight for Grimsby Town in the wake of the Mariners' sacking of manager Paul Groves.

While Groves is to remain as a player at Blundell Park, his former assistant Graham Rodger has been appointed caretaker-manger for Saturday's home clash against Brighton. And York-born Woods, currently Grimsby's youth team boss, will be Rodger's deputy.

Woods moved to Bootham Crescent in the 1998-99 season and figured in the opening matches of the campaign. But, hindered by injury, he was unable to show his true value and only figured in ten games in an ill-starred term that ended with relegation from Division Two on the final day of the season at Manchester City's former Maine Road stronghold.

The post at Grimsby could interest former City boss Terry Dolan, who is still on 'gardening leave' from York.

Updated: 10:47 Tuesday, February 10, 2004