Former Huddersfield Town terrier Darren Edmondson is straining at the leash to kick-start his career at Bootham Crescent.

Speaking to the Evening Press, York City's newest recruit said he is determined to make up for lost time after two stop-start years at the McAlpine Stadium.

He may have to wait a little longer for his City debut. Boss Terry Dolan has still to decide whether to change a winning formula for tomorrow's home encounter with Hartlepool.

But Edmondson insists if the call comes he aims to grab the opportunity with both hands.

"I have not had first team football regularly for about two seasons now," he said.

"I have only played about ten games this season and when you get to the later stages of your 20s then you need to be playing so I am grateful for Terry for giving me the chance."

The former Carlisle player, predominantly a right-back, has signed until the end of the season initially although Dolan has indicated he may try and keep Edmondson for longer.

"If I come here and prove myself then who knows what might happen in the future," said Edmondson, snapped up by Huddersfield for £225,000 in 1997 after making 214 appearances for the Cumbrians.

"It feels like 1957 to be honest," said Edmondson of his move to Town. and he insists he is only too happy to trade Premiership prospects for Division Three reality.

"The first season at Huddersfield I played quite a few games but got injured and I was out with a hamstring injury for quite a long time.

"As I came back I kept getting little niggles and when Steve Bruce took over as manager I felt he didn't really give me a chance."

Not that Edmondson bears a grudge.

"That is up to Steve Bruce, he is his own man and wants his own players in," he reasoned. "Good luck to Huddersfield but I just want to get on with my career and start playing games."

Edmondson had a spell on loan at Plymouth Argyle last season and was linked with a move to Halifax just before Christmas.

"But that was just talk between the clubs and I didn't actually talk to anyone from Halifax," said Edmondson, who revealed Dolan, his reserve team manager at Huddersfield, played a decisive role in his decision to come to City.

"He has really been my manager for the last two years and he is an honest bloke. He was a big factor," he admitted.

Edmondson, who won a division three championship medal with Carlisle, has already seen his new team mates in action. He was at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday night as City beat Lincoln 2-0.

"I thought it would be a tough game because Lincoln had been playing well over the last couple of months.

"But I thought the lads played really well and showed a lot of commitment and it was a relatively easy win in the end."

"Darren is the only decision I have got to make," said Dolan as he looked ahead to tomorrow's clash with Hartlepool.

After two successive wins to stretch the Minstermen's unbeaten run to four games, the City boss is anxious there is no let up.

"Winning is a nice habit to have. It has put a spring in everyone's step and smiles on faces but we need to build on it now," he said.

"Hartlepool are in the play-off frame so it should make for an interesting game.

"We have now got competition for places and bringing Darren in increases that competition.

"But the bottom line is the players have got their rewards over the last couple of weeks by working very hard. That has got to be the standard now."

Tomorrow's match brings to an end Peter Hawkins month-long loan stint from Wimbledon.

However, the player has indicated he would like to stay for another month and Dolan plans to speak to the Dons next week about securing the player's services for longer.

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