FORGOTTEN man Michael Coulson is determined to relaunch his York City career after admitting he feared he had played his last game for the club.

Having been dropped from the side in early September, Coulson failed to even make the bench in 14 successive games prior to a sprightly second-half substitute outing during the Minstermen’s last match – a 0-0 home draw with Rochdale.

The former Barnsley and Grimsby forward is now hoping that run-out can act as a springboard for greater opportunities in coming weeks.

On the frustration of being frozen out for three months at Bootham Crescent, Coulson said: “There is no worse thing for a footballer and it’s hard to come in with a smile on your face when you know you’re not going to be involved but football is a strange game and you never know what can happen.

“I won’t lie, I thought my time was up here, without a doubt, but I am not the type of person who will mope around the place. I kept coming in and working hard every day to see where that would get me so it was nice to hear the manager say the door is still open for me and that proves, if you do well in training and keep your head down, things might change.

“Luckily, they have done because I love the club, live close by and want to do my best for York City, so let’s see what happens over the next few weeks.”

Conference outfit Gateshead, managed by Coulson’s former City boss Gary Mills, were believed to have inquired about his availability during his exile from the first team and, on the possibility of leaving the club he joined in the summer of 2012, the 25-year-old attacker added: “I think it did come fairly close to that but we had injuries and suspensions at the time so it did not come about.

“There was a little bit of interest out there and that was nice to know because my contract is up in the summer and it’s always nervous times for anybody in that situation because you don’t know what’s happening next year. But I am happy to still be here and all I am concentrating on now is making my mark on the team here.”

Coulson was satisfied with his return to the side against Rochdale but a little frustrated not to get himself on the scoresheet and clinch maximum points with a stoppage-time opportunity.

“It was a great feeling to get back on the pitch,” Coulson said. “I enjoyed my little cameo, especially playing up front because I do like a little appearance there.

“I was just disappointed that I didn’t get a goal at the end because, on another day, it might have gone in. It just fell at an awkward height and I had to take it really early so I did not get enough power on the shot.

“It got blocked on the line, where there were three or four of their players, so it was close but, hopefully, I can get in the squad more often now.”

With Ryan Bowman currently suspended, Wes Fletcher recovering from hamstring problems and Richard Cresswell having retired, Coulson is also willing to step into the breach as a central striker, having previously been used on the flank during his 17-month City career.

Since netting five times during his first eight games for the Minstermen, he has not scored in 20 subsequent outings – his longest-ever barren spell in professional football – but Coulson, who has also had to contend with three cruciate ligament injuries in a nine-year career, remains confident he can start hitting the target again and end a drought stretching back to September 2012 and a 1-1 draw at Exeter.

He said: “I see goalscoring as a big part of my game. I always want to score and am disappointed when I don’t.

“Playing up front, you are expected to score so, if I do eventually get any time up there, I want to score goals. I started my career there at Scarborough and had a decent scoring record but gradually drifted out wide after my injuries to get out of the hustle and bustle of the middle of the pitch.

“But I feel strong now and it doesn’t matter where I am playing on the pitch. There are no problems with my knee and I feel I am back to where I want to be.

“I just want a run of games now in competitive football.”