BENCH-WARMING duties would have Jon McCarthy singing in the valleys tomorrow.

After ten months of injury anguish the former York City favourite is in with a chance of figuring in tomorrow's Worthington Cup final for Birmingham against runaway favourites Liverpool.

The showdown at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium will make its own piece of history as the first major English football cup final to be played in another country, while Wembley Stadium is being rebuilt.

McCarthy, who thrilled Minstermen fans for five seasons, would love nothing better than to be a part of tomorrow's historic set-to. Only a few weeks ago any such prospect was a fleeting dream for him.

The 30-year-old McCarthy was still on his the tortuous road to recovery from a twice-fractured right leg.

His comeback was further hampered by the winter freeze-up that caused several reserve games to be postponed.

But then he got the call from Birmingham manager Trevor Francis, and after several outings as a substitute he played his first full 90 minutes in almost a year four nights ago in Birmingham's superb 2-0 win at Preston to keep their Nationwide League first division promotion push bubbling.

That happiest of returns has given McCarthy the 'sniff' of a chance of featuring at some stage in tomorrow's final, and more significantly, of adding to Birmingham's tilt for the even greater prize of promotion to the Premiership.

McCarthy told the Evening Press: "I did nothing flash against Preston. I was just solid, but to get in that first full 90 minutes was great.

"I think tomorrow's cup final might have come around a bit too quick for me. But playing at Preston has given me a little bit of hope and I might have done well enough to get a place on the bench.

"It would be hard to miss playing some part against Liverpool."

McCarthy, a big favourite with the crowd at Bootham Crescent, where his right-wing heroics endeared him to the City faithful, is grateful to be able to resume his career again after his damaging double blow.

The first fracture was against Tranmere at the tail-end of 1999, the second against Manchester City.

"The dates are etched in my mind - November 23 1999, April 28 2000. It was the same break in the same place in the leg," he recalled.

"Luckily it was a clean break. But it has been a nightmare to be out for so long, especially when I never really ever had any bad injuries before. Up until that Tranmere game I had been so, so lucky."

McCarthy candidly admitted that at his lowest points he feared for his future. But starting with the Worthington Cup final the adrenaline is coursing through the veins.

The showdown with the Anfield aces started a hectic spell for the 30-year-old flier, who is also back on the international front.

Almost straight after tomorrow's final he flies out to join the Northern Ireland squad for their friendly with Spain before jetting back to hopefully be involved in Birmingham's crunch Friday night showdown with Watford.

He admitted that promotion to the top-flight was the Blues' priority and he was determined to play his part in getting the Midlands club he joined for £1million from Port Vale in 1997, into the elite.

But first stop it was Liverpool and the prospect of competing in a Blues v Reds, David and Goliath clash.

"We are realistic. If Liverpool hit their best form they will be red-hot favourites," said McCarthy.

"But they will feel some pressure from that, which could work in our favour.

"We are always going to create chances and we want to try to make this an unbelievable day for our fans and the club."

Updated: 12:36 Saturday, February 24, 2001