JOSH Carson has been told he might need to bide his time before becoming a first-team regular at York City again.

The 21-year-old winger was taken out of the firing line for last weekend's 3-2 home defeat to AFC Wimbledon, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute after back-to-back starts at Hartlepool and Plymouth.

He is still just five games into his comeback from a cruciate ligament injury that saw him sidelined for six months and manager Russ Wilcox remains wary of the need not to work the Northern Ireland international too hard on his return to action.

Ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet League Two trip to Bury, the City chief said: "I've had a chat with Josh and we have got to manage him well. He wants to play every minute of every match, so he's frustrated if I leave him out because he feels he's fit and ready to go.

"He's showed what he can do and I know what he can do because I remember him from when he was at Ipswich and have followed his career since then, so I know all about his qualities but, for now, it will be a case of putting him in, taking him out and introducing him from the bench, because being out since March is such a long time and we don't want any major setbacks."

Luke Summerfield is in line for a recall to the starting line-up, however, having recovered from the bug that saw him miss out against Wimbledon.

Goalkeeper Michael Ingham is still doubtful, though, due to a shoulder problem.

Wilcox has also stressed that on-loan Middlesbrough right-back Brad Halliday will need to maintain the high standards he displayed on his full senior debut last weekend to keep Marvin McCoy out of the team.

"Marvin had played every game before coming out of the team and we must not forget that," Wilcox pointed out. "His attitude and response to being left out has been excellent and competition for places is always key.

"Leaving him out was a big decision after taking four points from six away from home, but I had no regrets after the Wimbledon game and think I got that one right. Brad now has to keep playing as he did to keep Marvin out of the side."

On-loan Bournemouth centre-back Stephane Zubar, meanwhile, is being backed not to make the same mistake twice having lost possession near the corner flag for Wimbledon's decisive third goal at Bootham Crescent.

Zubar will be returning to a former club in Bury and Wilcox said: "The mistake Stephane made was very unlike him.

"He usually clears his lines and is a no-nonsense defender. I know what it's like to make a mistake in that area of the pitch and it's about how you react and respond to that and I know he will be fine."

Bury have lost six of their last seven win-less matches and Wilcox has witnessed the Gigg Lane outfit in action during their FA Cup draw against Luton and subsequent replay defeat this month.

Despite admitting the Shakers have an impressive squad, the City boss now wants his team to capitalise on their hosts' poor run of form.

"They've probably got one of the top budgets in League Two and have plenty of strength in depth but they're not on a good run," Wilcox added. "They make a lot of changes to their formation and personnel so it's hard to predict how they will line up and I don't think the manager is sure what his best 11 is at the moment.

"He's got a big squad and is looking for a winning formula. Hopefully, he won't find it until after this weekend and we need to go there full of confidence and with the same offensive approach we adopted against Wimbledon in our last match, while doing better defensively."

The Minstermen's pre-match plans have been affected this week by a saturated surface at their Wigginton Road base but Wilcox insisted that will have no bearing on their display at Bury.

"We trained on York St John University's astroturf today, which gives a few of the lads problems who have had knee injuries in the past," he explained. "You can't risk them on that surface so that's not ideal because, usually, you are looking to do your fundamental preparation for the match on a Thursday.

"But other League Two teams are having similar issues and our training facilities are probably some of the best in the division, so I am very grateful for that and you just have to get on with these things."