FORMER Scarborough forward Dave Pounder has signed for York City on a short-term basis.

Pounder, 25, has spent the summer training with the Minstermen after leaving Scarborough at the end of last season and, like Ryan Mallon and James Dudgeon, will be given the chance to earn a more permanent deal in coming weeks.

Mallon started Saturday's 0-0 opening day Conference clash against Crawley Town while Dudgeon was on the bench.

Left-footed Pounder is expected to play for the reserves at Lincoln on Wednesday as City boss Billy McEwan assesses his match fitness.

McEwan said: "He's shown enough to be given a short-term deal but he's another one who missed a fair amount of football last season and he's got to get himself fit.

"He can play anywhere as a forward but he's small so he won't be a target man. He can see a pass though and we will look at him more closely when he gets more matches in him.

"We are hoping he comes in and progresses with us and, if he does, then he's got a chance of signing permanently. We have given these players short-term deals because they have all got something.

"They have also come in for York City and given up their time when they are looking for jobs so you have to be fair to give them a longer chance to show us if there's more to come."

McEwan has also recruited Halifax striker Darren Mansaram on a one-month loan deal, taking his summer signings tally to 14.

Mansaram made his debut against Crawley and came closest to winning the game when he hit a post with a first-half effort.

The 6ft 2in forward will face a fight to keep his starting place against Southport tomorrow night with Joe O'Neill available again after suspension but McEwan said: "He's a big strong boy and he didn't do badly considering he had just come in after a couple of training sessions and was thrown in at the deep end.

"We were scratching about looking for another forward after Danny Ekoku decided to go. We had one or two in mind but their clubs would not release them, then this boy became available.

"It gives Andy Bishop a little bit more time to get himself fit because he's missed a lot of the pre-season."

Updated: 11:25 Monday, August 15, 2005