YORK City striker Aron Wilford is determined to continue his career as a professional footballer despite returning to his UniBond League roots with a loan move to Worksop Town.

Wilford, 21, was plucked by City scouts from non-League football when he signed from Whitby Town in the summer.

He has scored two league goals from four starts this season but his recent first-team opportunities have been limited and he hopes that a successful one-month spell with Worksop will improve his fortunes at Bootham Crescent.

Wilford said: "I love training every day and love being a full-time professional. There's nothing better than when you are in the starting 11 playing on a Saturday and I want to get back to that. Then I will be a happy man."

The ?-born forward recently rejected a move to Worksop's UniBond League rivals Harrogate Town because he wanted to fight for his place at City.

But player-boss Chris Brass has now told Wilford that his best opportunity to reclaim a starting shirt is by having an impressive spell at the Nottinghamshire club.

Wilford said: "I want to get a good go at it at York and want to prove myself as a success here. I have got to respect the gaffer's advice and he has told me that if I do the business at Worksop then I could get back into the team.

"I'm basically going for a bit of match fitness and hopefully I can get a few goals so the manager at York takes notice.

"This opportunity has come up. Obviously I want to be playing in our first team but the gaffer has said the best way of doing that is to go out on loan first."

Wilford's scoring ratio of one goal every two starts in the league this season compares favourably with any other striker at the club but he admits that his recent form and fitness levels have been patchy.

He said: "I have got two goals in four starts so I am happy with how that's gone but unfortunately I got injured at the wrong time. I just want to come back to York and have a longer run.

"A goal in every two games is what every club wants from a striker. Hopefully, I can do that over a longer period.

"But I've had some niggly injuries and it's been a stop-start season.

have not been performing as well as I can for the reserves and I've found it quite hard because there's not really a competitive edge and, with their only being a game every two weeks, it's hard to get into a rhythm which you need as a striker.

"The manager felt it would be best that I play regularly at a decent level and take it from there. So I'm looking forward to getting sharper while I'm at Worksop.

"Then when I come back it will be halfway through the season and I would like to get another 15 games under my belt to take me to about 20 so I can be judged by my records then."

Wilford also believes a temporary move to a UniBond League outfit was preferable to a spell at a Nationwide Conference side where his lack of match fitness might have meant he would not be a regular starter.

He said: "I need to be playing games and not sitting on somebody else's bench because I'm not looking to go anywhere permanent. I want to fight for my place at York and I will be playing every week at Worksop.

"They are looking to get into the Conference and are geared up for that so hopefully I can help them during the next month."

Updated: 10:15 Thursday, December 11, 2003