HOPES that Brazilian striker Rogerio Carvalho would be available for tomorrow's game against Torquay have been dashed by red tape.

City are waiting to hear from the FA for international clearance to play the 22-year-old 6ft 3in forward, who agreed a deal with the club this week.

Rogerio holds two passports, one of which is Portuguese, which means he doesn't need a work permit, as Portugal is part of the European Union.

He still needs clearance however, which can only be given once the Brazilian FA have liased with their English counterparts.

The former Corinthians man played in City's pre-season games against Middlesbrough and Gainsborough but needs international clearance to be considered for league matches.

Providing he gets the go-ahead, he should make his competitive City debut in a next Wednesday's Avon Insurance League reserves game against Darlington at Bootham Crescent (2pm).

Scott Jones finished Tuesday night's 2-1 victory over Shrewsbury with a slight groin strain but should be fit for tomorrow after a couple of days rest.

Torquay are facing a striker-crisis with former Rangers striker David Graham serving the last of a three -match ban and on-loan forward Martin Gritton rated doubtful with a hamstring strain, Gulls new boss Leroy Rosenior has made recruiting a new hit man a priority.

Former Birmingham and Peterborough striker Howard Forinton spent yesterday training with United.

But at the time of going to press it is not clear whether the 25-year-old, who scored ten times in 50 appearances for Peterborough before linking-up with Yeovil Town in the Conference, impressed sufficiently to make the trip north.

If Gritton is ruled-out, former Cambridge front-man Marcus Richardson, who is currently on a three-month contract at Plainmoor, could make his first start of the season.

In Torquay's first two games of the season Rosenior has been forced to name second-year trainee Ben Camara and 16-year-old Dean Stevens in his squads.

Also ruled-out tomorrow are former Arsenal youngster Lee Canoville, who is also serving the last of a three-match ban, and a quarter of injured defenders in club captain Steve Woods, Paul Holmes, John James and Ryan Northmore.

City youth team start their Football League Youth Alliance North east Conference campaign against Scunthorpe United at the club's Wigginton training ground (11am).

Updated: 12:41 Friday, August 16, 2002