FORMER Hartlepool defender Carl Jones has become York City boss Billy McEwan's eighth summer signing.

Jones, 20, has been given a one-year contract at KitKat Crescent after a successful pre-season trial.

Jones will now come into contention for a starting place when City kick off the Blue Square Premier season at home to Cambridge on Saturday.

About his latest signing, McEwan said: "He's done well in pre-season and shown a good attitude."

Jones' fellow centre-back Danny Parslow was given a second run out in a juniors' friendly last night, but is unlikely to be considered against Cambridge having missed the first-team pre-season programme with an ankle injury.

McEwan has not as yet offered permanent deals to other trialists Brian Dutton, Carl Pentney or Luke Prosser. But goalkeeper Pentney's teenage Leicester City team-mate Andy King has returned to the Walkers Stadium, leaving McEwan baffled.

McEwan had hoped to run the rule over King with the view to a possible loan move, having lost Phil Turnbull to a dislocated shoulder injury.

But the City boss said: "After playing for us at Sheffield, the 18-year-old midfielder has spoken to his agent and decided he doesn't want to come back, which I find unbelievable."