BACK in contention Mark Maley is looking for happier returns from his second York City posting, starting at Oxford United tomorrow.

Having missed last Saturday's 1-0 win over Macclesfield due to illness, Maley is likely to be the only fresh face added to the squad for City's first trip to The Kassam Stadium.

Had he participated against the Silkmen, it would have been Maley's first outing since signing for a second month on loan from Sunderland.

Now back in first-team contention, Newcastle-born Maley admits the City faithful did not see him at his best during his first few, topsy-turvy weeks in City colours.

It started with a 3-1 win in arguably City's best performance of the season at Lincoln when Maley played left-back and ended with him playing right-back in the 4-1 defeat at Kidderminster.

Despite the ups and downs of his short Bootham Crescent tenure, Maley insists he has no regrets about leaving the Stadium of Light and has not ruled out making the move more permanent.

Earlier this week, his Black Cats' team-mate Michael Proctor signed to City until the end of the season and Maley indicated he could be willing to follow in the striker's footsteps.

"It's something I would definitely consider," he told the Evening Press.

"I've signed for a second month so we'll see what happens when the time comes, but it is definitely a possibility."

The 20-year-old added: "I really enjoyed the first month, even though I don't think I played as well as I could have done.

"It's a step up from reserves and is certainly more competitive and it is just really good experience.

"But the fans definitely haven't seen the best of me yet.

"I had been out injured for around 11 months prior to coming here and these were really my first few games since in a year.

"Hopefully, I will be in the squad at least tomorrow and can kick on next week.

"I was getting fitter and fitter as the games went on so it was just unlucky I fell ill last week.

"Once I get my match fitness back up I will be a lot better."

While Maley is anxious to prove his worth to City fans, the former England Schoolboys' skipper admits City too are anxious to secure a second successive victory for the first time this season.

"We need a bit of consistency and to tighten up at the back," he reasoned.

"We always look like scoring in games but it's at the other end we need to get right. We have got a young team and we've been unsettled by injuries.

"Once we start to gel the results will come more consistently."

Updated: 13:16 Friday, November 02, 2001