ON-LOAN teenage full-back Ben Davies is hoping to stay at York City until the end of the season.

The Preston defender believes it would be hard to break into the Lilywhites’ first team if he was to return to Deepdale in the New Year with Simon Grayson’s men chasing promotion from League One.

He, therefore, feels his immediate future could be best served at Bootham Crescent once his current loan deal expires following the first weekend in January.

On his hopes for the start of 2014, Davies, pictured, said: “Nothing has been said yet but I am sure, if the offer came to stay here, I would take it until the end of the season. If Preston want me back then, obviously, that’s my first choice but, unless that happens, I am happy to keep playing here.

“It would be very difficult to get into the team at Preston. The players are all doing well there and they are near the top of the league.

“It’s important I keep playing games and, unless Preston are struggling, I can’t see that happening there.”

Davies’ record of 19 league starts this term is more than any other Minstermen player and the 18-year-old Cumbrian is pleased with that statistic, admitting: “I am quite happy with that. I came here just to get games and experience, and I have really enjoyed it so I want to keep going as long as I can.”

Having been his own biggest critic earlier in the campaign when he thought his displays were a little under par, Davies has also been more encouraged by his contributions in recent matches.

He added: “My form was always going to pick up and I think it has done over the last few games. It’s important now to carry that on because we need everyone in form over the Christmas period to win these games.”

Today’s match will be the first of five fixtures in 16 days for the Minstermen, meaning Davies will not be spending Christmas Day with his family for the first time in his life.

City are due to train in the early evening on December 25 but the 6ft 1in defender argues the sacrifice is of little significance compared to pursuing his dream career, reasoning: “In the youth team, you normally get a couple of weeks off at Christmas so this year will be completely different but I am ready for the challenge.

“I have never done it before but I will be looking after my body and making sure I do everything right over Christmas to be ready for games. Obviously, I won’t be able to get home and see my family but I will make up for that over the days we do get off and I would not change being a professional footballer for the world.”

First up for Davies and his City team-mates this afternoon are top-of-the-table Oxford, who will arrive at Bootham Crescent with the only unbeaten away record in English football’s top five divisions.

The City number three is not intimidated by that challenge, however, as he reckons only two sides this term have been superior to Nigel Worthington’s side, saying: “They are top of the league so it will be a tough game but our emphasis has been on attacking this week and, because we are at home, we feel we have the players to go at them.

“There is not a huge difference between the teams in this division. Some teams have taught us a few lessons but, on the whole, we can beat any team in this league.

“You can’t just talk about that, though – you have to go out and show it. In spells, we have shown it but we have just got to do it more consistently.

“Fleetwood and Chesterfield have been the two in my opinion that have really been better than us on the day. Other than that, we have lost games but I don’t think any team has been that much better than us.”

Davies has been a member of the City back four that has conceded only three goals in the last four matches, having shipped nine during the previous quartet of fixtures and is optimistic that new-found resilience can be maintained.

“If results are to improve, we have to continue that kind of ratio,” he confessed. “We have shown we are capable of doing that because we have been playing teams quite high in the division and I think we can keep it up.”

Those last four games have seen Keith Lowe installed at the back and Davies is of the opinion the assured on-loan Cheltenham centre back has been crucial in tightening matters.

“He has made a huge difference with his experience,” Davies said. “He talks you through the game, helps you and is solid.”