York City helped Leeds United and England midfielder David Batty in his quest to be fit to face Tottenham at Elland Road tomorrow night.

City agreed at the 11th-hour to send a team to play Leeds reserves at Thorp Arch yesterday and Batty completed an hour with no problems before being substituted.

Explained City boss Alan Little: "They wanted a game to test out Batty's fitness.

"Other than Gordon Connelly and Scott Jordan we sent over a very young team, so we were the whipping boys. But it was a good work-out and we have done Leeds a favour."

The Leeds side, which also included Bruno Ribeiro, Stephen McPhail and Alan Maybury, won 5-1. But the vital issue for manager David O'Leary was to assess Batty's fitness.

Batty, who completed a full reserve game last week, admits his fitness level is not yet back to normal. He cracked a rib in his first game back at Elland Road following a £4.4 million move from Newcastle, and says: ''Ideally I need a bit longer, but I'll be really happy to play on Wednesday if picked. There'll be no problem.

"Although I haven't taken a blow in the ribs yet, I haven't given that a second thought. The injury should have healed in the three months I've been out. It's just my breathing and full match fitness I've got to get right.''

O'Leary, who will be without suspended midfielder David Hopkin against Spurs, said: ''David is in the running for a place on the bench.

"He isn't really ready yet but I am not saying that will stop him playing on Wednesday because of the situation we are in.''

Welsh midfielder Nathan Jones could sign for Scarborough in the next 72 hours in a loan deal with Southend United.

A former YTS player at Cardiff City before spells at Spanish club Badajoz and Luton Town, 28-year-old Jones played 39 games for Southend last season.

He has had talks with Boro boss Colin Addison ahead of the Seasiders' match at Chester tonight.

Striker Andy Saville has told Addison he wants to play for Hull City reserves again this week after a run-out for them last week.

Scarborough (at Chester): from Parkes, Russell, McNaughton, Hoyland, Rennison, G Atkinson, Bullimore, Porter, Brodie, Roberts, Tate, Carr, P Atkinson, Greenacre, Kay.

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