YORK City’s new loan signing Bailey Peacock-Farrell is hoping his temporary switch to Bootham Crescent can help win him a place at this summer’s World Cup!

Peacock-Farrell, who has one Championship appearance under his belt for parent club Leeds United, was called up to the Northern Ireland squad for their World Cup qualifying contests against San Marino and the Czech Republic in September.

The Green-and-White Army are now preparing for a play-off contest next month with a place at the finals in Russia at stake and 20-year-old Peacock-Farrell is targeting a place on the plane if Michael O’Neill’s men make it to their second consecutive major tournament, after reaching the knockout stages of Euro 2016.

On that dream, the former Middlesbrough academy shot-stopper said: “Hopefully, we can make it another special, big summer and, if I get games here with York and, maybe something potentially during the January window, I can push to get in the senior squad again.

“The squad are definitely still on a high from the Euros and that has translated into this campaign. We have no fear and know we can beat people, so we want to get to the World Cup – that’s our frame of mind.

“We’ve got some Premier League players and the quality is there.”

Norwich reserve Michael McGovern, St Johnstone number-one Alan Mannus and former Manchester United custodian Roy Carroll, who now plays for Linfield at the age of 40, were all put through their paces, along with Peacock-Farrell, by ex-Premier League ace Maik Taylor – the national team’s keeper coach - during last month’s international together and City’s newest recruit admitted such an environment proved a positive experience.

“It was a good standard for me to be around and they were another set of keepers to learn from and emulate,” Peacock-Farrell enthused. “The more information I can take in, the better chance I have of being a better keeper.”

The Leeds hopeful also has a familiar mentor on his CV, having worked with Andy Leaning when he was on the Elland Road backroom staff, citing the ex-City keeper and coach as having a significant influence on his fledgling career.

“When I was 16 or 17, he was the first-team goalkeeper coach at Leeds and I trained with him a little bit,” Peacock-Farrell said of the man who once kept goal for the Minstermen against the mighty 1980s’ Liverpool team. “He’s a nice guy and certainly someone who I took some skills and techniques from.

“He looked after all the keepers at the club and it was nice that he took the time to look all the way down the pecking order and wasn’t just worried about his number one and two.”

The Darlington-born, net-minder, who came close to joining his home-town club when City chief Gray was their manager last term, is now open to staying in North Yorkshire longer than the initial four-week stint agreed, as he looks to gain greater exposure in the professional game, adding: “I first broke into the first-team squad at Leeds when I was 18 or 19 and I was on the bench for a couple of seasons.

“I was second or third choice but, as a goalkeeper, you’re waiting for an injury and that didn’t happen, so I’m here to get some games, so I can be ready to challenge again at Leeds next season. I thought it was a good opportunity to go just down the road and it suits all three parties – myself, Leeds and York City.

“It’s a chance for me to play some senior football and get some invaluable experience. I’d definitely be interested in staying longer, but that’s down to the manager and Leeds to negotiate.”

Despite making his Leeds debut at the age of 19 in front of more than 17,000 supporters during a 1-1 home draw against QPR, Peacock-Farrell went on to insist that he was equally relishing the prospect of stepping out at Bootham Crescent, where he has heard positive reports about the fan-base.

“Elland Road was a great place to make my debut,” he admitted. “The fans make it a special club there, but I’ve heard the atmosphere is good at York as well.

“The numbers are obviously fewer, but there’s still a decent following here and, in a tight ground, the fans sometimes seem louder.”