New York City boss Terry Dolan has landed his first Bootham Crescent catch - left-sided defender Mark Bower from Premiership outfit Bradford City on a month's loan.

And the Minstermen's main man has not ruled out bringing in another defender to help ease City's lack of cover at left-back.

Bower, 19, who can also play at centre-back, has yet to make his debut in the Premiership with the Bantams but has tasted first team football on three occasions after coming through the ranks at Valley Parade.

Dolan took a watching brief last night as Bower played 45 minutes for Bradford reserves in their 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

With former manager Neil Thompson no longer available and veteran defender Wayne Hall ruled out with a heel injury, Dolan said he was delighted to bring in some much-needed cover.

"He is highly rated but they are looking for him to get some first team experience and that suits me because we are short on the left side," said Dolan.

"But I am still looking to get a left back in if I can."

It is likely Bower will make his York City debut on Saturday for Dolan's first match in charge at Plymouth.

Martin Reed filled in at left back during the 2-1 defeat by Rotherham on Saturday but is more at home in the centre of defence.

And Martin Garratt, a left-sided player, is still some way short of match fitness after continuing his rehabilitation in yesterday's 3-0 defeat at the hands of a strong Huddersfield Town at Bootham Crescent.

Dolan, who described the hastily arranged friendly as "interesting", was able to cast his eye over City first team players who hadn't featured against Rotherham.

"It served a good purpose," said Dolan, who stressed the club were still taking a softly, softly approach with Garratt as he overcomes undisclosed health problems.

"There is no pressure on the lad but it will obviously be of benefit to him to be playing regularly again."

It was reported at the end of last year that the teenage midfielder had been given leave by the club suffering from personal problems.

After not featuring in the first team squad since November, he returned to training shortly before Christmas and seemed to be on the verge of staking a claim for a senior start again.

But he came off after just ten minutes of a City reserve match at Notts County on January 11 suffering from a back injury.

At the end of last month, the club issued a statement saying the top prospect had, on the advice of the club's medical officer, been referred to a hospital.

In another boost for Dolan, midfielder Kevin Hulme got through another 90 minutes against Huddersfield as he works his way back to match fitness following a double hernia operation before Christmas.

Dolan admitted the former Halifax Town skipper will be in the squad for Saturday's long haul south and could be in line to make his first senior appearance since the beginning of December.

With City at Plymouth, Bootham Crescent will host the Northern Counties Youth Competition match between the North Riding FA and the West Riding FA Under-18s squad on Saturday. The match offers free admission and kicks-off at 2pm.

Selby Town's Northern Counties East League President's Cup quarter final replay at North Ferriby last night was postponed just before the 7.30pm kick off because of floodlight failure.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.