JOSH CARSON is hoping his second coming at York City proves to have a strong sense of déja vu.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder arrived back at Bootham Crescent having signed until the end of the season after being released by Championship outfit Ipswich Town.

A big hit at the club while on loan towards the end of last term, before his spell was cut short by a foot injury after five games, Carson expressed his delight at returning to the club and his desire to help City push up the table as soon as possible.

And he believes having experienced a brief taste of life as a Minsterman can help him hit the ground running.

“I’m very pleased to be back,” he said. “I’ve signed a contract now so I am a permanent York player and it was good to be down here on loan – as I got a sniff of it – and I want more now.

“I heard of the interest about a week ago. I wasn’t playing at Ipswich again and Nigel Worthington came in and I am just really pleased to be part of the football club.”

“Very (big),” added Carson when asked of the influence Worthington had played in his return.

“He’s a Northern Ireland lad and so am I and we can talk and communicate very well. I’m very pleased to be a part of it.

“He’s looking for me to do the same as I did last time; help the boys try to get a few wins under the belt and be pushing along.

“We’ve got a fantastic team, and a fantastic set-up, so we have got to kick on now and get a few results.

“I have been keeping an eye on the scores. We’ve not been doing too well but hopefully we can get a few results now and I am looking forward to that challenge.”

Despite having played such a major role in his brief time at York in the spring, Carson insisted he was under no illusions about the challenge of nailing down a starting place in Worthington’s team.

“I’m going to have to work for my place,” he said. “It’s not going to be straightforward. I’m going to have to work my nuts off and do well. Hopefully when I get my chance I will take it and cement my place.

“I’m looking forward to trying to get regular football under my belt. I haven’t played regularly for two years so it is very frustrating. Hopefully, I can come here, work hard and get my just deserts.

“I thought I did all right in the five-games and fans seem to think I did well so I was chuffed. I have done well enough to get signed at York City.

“I am relishing the challenge and I hope everything works out.”

The versatile Carson, who played in midfield and defence in League Two last term, is a natural attacking player but stressed he didn’t care where he had to “do a job”.

He said: “I was all over the place. My debut was at left midfield and I had to drop in to left-back. I don’t mind where I play as long as I do a job in there.

“If I play in midfield or at the back, I don’t mind. I’ll do a job.

“It’s still early on in the season but the quicker we can get some wins the better. If it doesn’t come tomorrow it will come next (Saturday). We just can’t be frustrated and start panicking.”


Match facts

MANSFIELD Town are making their first Football League visit to Bootham Crescent since February 2004, when they won a Third Division (League Two) encounter 2-1 with Richard Pacquette, later to play for York City, a scorer.

The Stags have made 34 Football League trips (1932 to 2004) with City winning 22 times and drawing five.The biggest wins were 6-1 in 1982/83, when Keith Walwyn hit a hat-trick, and 5-1 in 1953/54, with Dave Dunmore scoring three times.

The clubs met four times here in the Conference with City winning twice, 3-0 in 2009/10 and 2-1 the following campaign. The other games were drawn.

The clubs last met in the Blue Square Bet Premier promotion play-offs in May 2012. A 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent saw Mansfield central defender Exodus Geohaghon put through his own goal.

City won 1-0 at Field Mill after Matty Blair’s extra-time header.

City’s line-up for the first game on May 2, 2012, watched by 6,057, was: Ingham, Challinor, Smith, Doig, Fyfield, Parslow, Meredith, McLaughlin (Moké), Blair, Walker, Chambers.

Players connected with both clubs include goalkeepers Harold Searson, Graham Brown and Bobby Mimms, along with Jimmy Weir, Ian McDonald, Gary Ford, Adam Smith and Chris Smith, plus Billy McEwan the managerial link.

It happened on September 14

1929: City suffered their first defeat as a Football League club when losing a Division Three North game 3-1 at Nelson. Jimmy Cowie netted.

1957: A 17-year-old Colin Addison made his debut as City beat Northern Section leaders Bury 2-1 at Bootham Crescent in front of 10,943. On target were Arthur Bottom and Billy Fenton.

1974: A Bootham Crescent crowd of 14,974 saw Sunderland win a Second Division (Championship) encounter 1-0.

Compiled by David Batters