York City manager Terry Dolan took an additional chance to run the rule over his new charges this afternoon.

WATCHING BRIEF: York City manager Terry Dolan oversees his first training session at the Wigginton training ground with assistant Adie Shaw

The Minstermen arranged a behind-closed-doors friendly with Dolan's former club Huddersfield Town at Bootham Crescent.

It gives Dolan, who watched Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by third division leaders Rotherham United from the stands leaving assistant manager Adie Shaw to take the reins, his first hands on game in charge of City.

However, it was not a full first team run-out with Dolan opting to have a look at the playing resources he currently has available at the club.

"It was really just a chance for me to have a look at the players that I have not seen yet," said Dolan.

"I need to get to know all my players and what they are capable of."

However, the new boss was not able to call on any of his long term casualties.

Striker Colin Alcide (back), club captain and centre back Chris Fairclough (knee), promising teenage midfielder Lee Bullock (ankle) and long serving left-back Wayne Hall (heel) were all still absent as Dolan took charge of training for the first time yesterday.

And there was a further blow as experienced midfielder Steve Agnew managed to get a session under his belt but then suffered a setback.

The City players found out that the new regime under Dolan will test them to the full as they followed their usual morning training session with work in the gym in the afternoon, but the new boss was happy that his squad were willing to do the hard graft necessary to turn round the poor run of results that have seen City slip to fourth bottom in the third division.

"I told the players that there would be a few changes in the way we work, all of them for the benefit of the players, and they have accepted that," explained Dolan.

The Terriers, battling to retain their place in the play-off frame in division one, sent a strong side to Bootham Crescent.

They used the game to test returning central defenders Chris Lucketti and Ken Monkou as they build towards their crucial televised McAlpine Stadium meeting with promotion candidates Manchester City on Friday.

Club captain Lucketti, formerly with Rochdale, Halifax Town and Bury, had been out of action for six months after breaking his leg in their meeting with Bolton Wanderers in October.

Dutch international Monkou, signed from Premiership outfit Southampton, was absent for three months with knee ligament damage.

l Nationwide Conference club Altrincham are believed to be showing an interest in former York City striker Gary Bull.

The 35-year-old front-runner is among half a dozen players who have been listed by second division Scunthorpe United and he is believed to be interesting two clubs, with the Robins being linked with a possible transfer deal.

Bull, who scored 11 goals in 65 League and cup appearances while at Bootham Crescent, has been languishing in the reserves at Glanford Park.

He has had just one start in the first team this season and, after scoring 18 times for the Iron's reserves last term, has managed only a handful of goals in the United second string this term.

l Members of York City's Junior Reds section will be able to meet their heroes at the Wigginton Road training ground complex next Monday, February 21 between 10.30 to noon.

Among the attractions will be a penalty shoot-out competition.

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