JACKIE McNAMARA can see the "light at the end of the tunnel" on York City's striker shortage after both Jake Hyde and Reece Thompson returned to first team training.

The Minstermen boss has not ruled out Thompson making the substitutes bench for Saturday's SkyBet League Two clash with Notts County at Bootham Crescent, while former Hibernian forward Derek Riordan could also bolster the replacements having played 70 minutes against Guisborough Town in the North Riding Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

Thompson has not featured since the Johnstone Paint's Trophy victory over Doncaster Rovers at the start of October after suffering from a long-term illness, while Hyde has not been in the frame since the end of November after undergoing a hernia operation.

"Reece has done three days with us and it has been a long time since the lad has done anything," said McNamara. "He showed up okay. On Wednesday he was a little bit tired compared with the two previous days and he looks like someone that is going to help us."

Asked whether the Notts County match would come too soon, McNamara added: "I would never rule him out. He could get a place on the bench and it depends how he recovers. Jake Hyde also trained for the first time on Wednesday and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"I don't think it (the position) has been covered properly. Jake was injured and Reece wasn't here. Emile (Sinclair) was injured and we have only really had Vadaine Oliver. He has had no competition or someone to play alongside him.

"We tried Kenny McEvoy up alongside and tried to get him in behind."

On Riordan, he added: "Derek got just over 70 minutes, which was important for us. He needs more sharpness but I think he could contribute from the bench. It's the little things. We had a couple of free kicks at the edge of their 18-yard box (against Guisborough) and I have seen Derek, week in and week out, put them in the top corner.

"He has that little bit of quality that you need to win games."

McNamara will certainly need to call on his whole squad as City prepare to enter a period of eight games from tomorrow until March 12's home encounter with Barnet.

"The other teams around us have similar issues," he said. "The frustration can be if you get injuries or suspensions. We are missing Luke Hendrie for a few games (after his red card at Northampton)."

Aside from having to fill the right-back berth, the Minstermen are also hoping striker, and club top scorer, Vadaine Oliver can shake off a minor hip injury that has been bothering him in training in time to face The Magpies.

York will face a dual threat in former Premier League striker Jon Stead and Izale McLeod, who have scored 17 goals between them this season. For York, who have yet to keep a league clean sheet during McNamara's tenure - part of a wider 22-game run going back to September - the first priority is to keep them quiet.

"They will come here feeling confident. They won at Luton, I watched them there, and they pose a threat. They've got the two lads up front - Stead and McLeod - and we will need to be wary of them."