CLOVIS Kamdjo is set to be recalled for York City’s National League clash at Barrow.

But new striker Fraser Murdoch, who has agreed terms until January, might need to be content with a place on the bench.

Kamdjo has not started the last five City games after, initially, losing his place in the starting XI and, then, suffering a knee injury.

But Minstermen chief Jackie McNamara believes the 5ft 11in midfielder’s height will be needed against a Holker Street outfit renowned for their aerial approach.

Kamdjo, 25, impressed McNamara playing in defence during this week’s 3-1 reserve victory over Chesterfield and, whilst admitting the ex-Barnet and Forest Green utility man could operate in the back four, he is set to be used in a midfield shielding role against the Cumbrians.

The City boss said: “Clovis played in the centre of defence for the reserves and was outstanding. He controlled the game and his distribution was excellent, so he’ll come back in.

“He’s an option in defence, because he’s physical and wins a lot of headers, which I think will be important at Barrow, but we also need some protection for the defence in that respect as well.”

Murdoch, meanwhile, has joined the Minstermen having been released by Crewe in the summer without breaking into the first team at Gresty Road.

The 20-year-old target man bagged a brace as a trialist for the reserves, but McNamara won’t be throwing him straight into City’s attack, reasoning: “He got injured at Crewe before he was released and we’ve got to get him fit because, although he scored two goals for the reserves, he got cramp and has a bit to go in terms of fitness. We’ve signed him until January, so we can look at what he can contribute and he can look at us.

“He’s a young lad with great potential and he’ll help us aerially because he’s a big lad and we’ve been relying really heavily on Richard Brodie in terms of the physical side of things.”

Lanre Oyebanjo and Yan Klukowski are continuing their rehabilitation from calf injuries, while Ben Clappison will also miss the trip due to illness and Danny Galbraith will not feature despite returning to training following the heel injury that has kept him sidelined all season.

Right-back Shaun Rooney will return for Clappison after serving a one-match ban and on-loan Sheffield United striker Jake Wright is fit again, while Aidan Connolly (hamstring) and Justin Johnson (back) have shrugged off minor problems from last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Dover.

Connolly, who was substituted just past the hour mark in that game, trained for the first time this week today, with McNamara adding: “He’s influential to how the team play and, in the games we’ve won convincingly, he’s played a big part.

“Our set-pieces have also been poorer when he’s not been on the pitch in the last two matches.”

City will be looking to end a 27-game run without an away win at a stadium where the club haven’t won in six attempts since 1971, but McNamara is ignoring both stats, saying: “The players are professional and it’s just another pitch - no different to any other.

“They are not responsible for last season’s away record, but they are this season’s and it’s important we give everything for our long-suffering fans to get that monkey off our back. They will play 4-4-2 and look for long throw-ins and second balls.

“They’ll look to get forward early and are direct, so we’ll need to keep our concentration and stand up to the fighting side of things by winning our one-v-one battles all around the pitch.”

Following Scott Flinders’ one-month loan move to Macclesfield, meanwhile, McNamara revealed that the club would be monitoring his situation before deciding whether the switch might be extended.

“When we signed Kyle (Letheren), it was for the season and we couldn’t get another keeper in on a short-term loan,” McNamara pointed out. “It’s important for us and Scott that he gets back playing, so we’ll see what happens in the next month.”

Midfielder Charlie Wardle, meanwhile, has signed his first professional contract at the age of 17.