JOSH Carson has been told he still has a part to play in York City’s season.

Former Northern Ireland international Carson has only managed 55 minutes during four substitute outings for the Minstermen since Jackie McNamara’s arrival as manager in early November.

The last of those appearances came during the first game of 2016 and has been an unused substitute during the last three matches.

Carson was also on the fringes under McNamara’s predecessor Russ Wilcox this term and has only started two matches during a frustrating campaign.

But, while the likes of Keith Lowe, Marvin McCoy, Anthony Straker, Eddie Nolan and John McCombe have all been offloaded by the ex-Celtic skipper, 22-year-old winger Carson has earned a reprieve at Bootham Crescent.

McNamara said: “His attitude has been very good. He might be disappointed that he's not come on during the last two games, but I said to the players before the game on Saturday there are 19 games to go and everybody will be used and needed.

“The importance of that has been seen during the last two games when the subs have come on and won us points, so it will be down to Josh to take his opportunity when it comes. Danny Galbraith has done that in the last two games and, when you get on the pitch, you have to impress and do well when you're needed whether you've been playing or not.”

McNamara also praised striker Vadaine Oliver for his reaction to being challenged to show greater fight by the City boss following the 1-1 draw against Carlisle.

On the nine-goal leading marksman’s performance during Saturday’s 2-1 home triumph over Stevenage, McNamara added: “He was good and his ball retention was much better, which is vital for us.”

But McNamara has not been as enamoured with the performance of the match-day officials since the turn of the year and is hoping for fairer decisions during the remainder of the campaign.

“Watching Saturday's game back on DVD, I was disappointed with our two goals that were disallowed and they could have easily been costly errors,” he reasoned. “We should have been 3-1 up but might have easily ended up losing the game because of those decisions.

“Things like that can change the whole complexion of games. Vadaine was not offside and Michael Coulson also got pushed before he put the ball over the line so, if it wasn't a goal, it should have been a penalty and red card for what went on before.

“We won the game but I was still disappointed with the officials' performances and have been in general during recent matches. We felt the penalty against us at Yeovil shouldn't have been one and that we should have been awarded one too.

“After complaining about that, the authorities also agreed with us. We should have had a penalty against Newport for a foul on Vadaine as well and, whilst it's a hard job, they've got to get the important decisions spot on because the points that are won or lost can be so valuable.

“We should have won more points in January, whilst others around us shouldn't have had so many and I feel a bit let down by that.”