MICHAEL Coulson has a chance of returning to York City's squad for Saturday's he match against Newport County at Bootham Crescent.

The 27-year-old attacker has been missing since the Minstermen's 5-1 home defeat to Accrington Stanley at the end of November following groin surgery.

It is a spell on the sidelines that has seen Coulson ruled out of the club's last four matches – but he is back in training and will be assessed over the coming days as City chief Jackie McNamara decides whether to pitch him straight back in at the weekend.

Coulson also missed the first two months of this season following a previous groin operation but scored three goals in five matches on his return to the team and remains the side's second-highest marksman this term – netting five times despite only making 12 appearances.

On Coulson's chances of facing the Exiles, McNamara said: "Michael Coulson is back in training and has got through it well so far.

"We will see how he's feeling in the next couple of days before deciding whether he will be available at the weekend."