YORK City boss Russ Wilcox will not shy away from fielding all three of his on-loan teenagers in the same starting line-up.

Middlesbrough right-back Brad Halliday made his professional debut during Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat to AFC Wimbledon and was the unanimous choice as man of the match.

Diego De Girolamo, meanwhile, maintained his record of scoring in every game he has started for City by claiming his fourth goal during two separate spells from Sheffield United.

Norwich striker Carlton Morris is still waiting for his full Minstermen debut but Wilcox insists he would consider fielding the 19-year-old trio together in his first XI.

The City boss said: “I wouldn’t have any qualms about starting all three. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

“That might be an old saying, but it’s a true one. Sometimes when young players come in from the cold, they have no thoughts about the team’s run of results or where the club might be in the table.

“It’s just all about playing and enjoying a game of football for them and they can play with no fear.”

But, with Halliday having had to wait until the final day of his initial one-month loan deal to feature for City at the weekend, Wilcox has also stressed that Morris, who has already been used from the bench during the last two games, might need to bide his time too, as he waits for a chance to kick off a fixture.

“Carlton is close to starting, as everybody is,” Wilcox explained. “I think everybody in the squad is or a very similar standard, so all 20 outfield players have an equal chance of starting.

“He has to be patient like Brad had to be, but it’s still a great experience for these lads and everybody benefits – them, us and their parent clubs.”

Wilcox went on to admit that Halliday’s high-octane display from full back against the Dons convinced him that the Redcar-born youngster could also operate for City in the midfield role he started out in as a Middlesbrough academy player.

“It’s important to have versatile players and, with smallish squads, you need to look at people in different positions,” Wilcox reasoned. “We’ve seen what he can do now and he has lots and lots of energy, so I would consider playing him in midfield.

“It was pleasing to get his loan extended, especially after his performance on Saturday and the next challenge for him is to maintain that standard. He has set the bar high, but he’s a smashing kid who wants to learn and listen.”

Wilcox added that he welcomed De Girolamo’s admission in Saturday’s match programme that he would like to extend his loan stay at City until the end of the season.

“We would definitely like that to be the case if he can maintain his current goalscoring average, because that would go a long way to helping us climb away from the lower reaches of the table,” Wilcox pointed out.