ALEX Pattison will be fit to start Saturday’s National League North home clash with Alfreton Town.

The on-loan Middlesbrough midfielder was replaced just seven minutes into last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Curzon Ashton after taking a hefty whack, but returned to training during the early part of this week.

On Pattison’s fitness, City chief Martin Gray confirmed: “He was back in training on Tuesday and is available for selection.”

The Minstermen will be without 25-goal top scorer Jon Parkin, as he begins a three-match suspension following his red card for violent conduct at Curzon, with Gray admitting that the big veteran’s absence could result in a different dynamic to the team’s attacking play.

“Without Jon’s goals, we wouldn’t be where we are and they have been great for us, but we know you don’t get great energy from him,” Gray reasoned. “Somebody else will provide something different and they need to try and stay in the team by giving us an outstanding performance.”

Alex Kempster, who scored as a substitute on his debut at Curzon following a midweek move from Whitley Bay, is a leading contender to replace Parkin, with Gray adding: “Alex is a very attack-minded player who could play anywhere across the front and he’s got goals in his game.

“He was the one shining light in everything that went on last weekend with his goal and header against the bar. I’ve loved his mentality since he arrived at the club, because he’s a kid who has come from nowhere and wants to stay in the building and become a professional footballer and his attitude has brought energy and positivity to the squad.”

Despite reaching 15 bookings for the season, Connor Brown has been spared the same length of ban as Parkin, which would normally be the case for hitting that figure, but 11 were accrued in the National League with Guiseley and are not carried over into the division below.

Gray went on to stress that some home truths had been spelled out since the Curzon debacle, but he has also offered reminders to the players of the potential they have shown at other times this season and, specifically, seven days earlier during the 1-0 home victory over title-contenders Salford.

“There’s been a lot of honest talking and in-depth conversations because the players need to understand how let down the fans felt at the end of the Curzon game and how hurt I was too,” the City boss declared. “We’ve also watched the footage back from Salford and gone over the positives from that match, because we’ve got to get back to showing that desire and maintaining that standard.

“We need disciplined performances, leadership and winners and we must make sure what happened at Curzon doesn’t again, because it shouldn’t at any club. The reaction has been fantastic in training and we have to back that up now against Alfreton, because we’ve not become a bad team over-night.

“We’ve had one very bad game, but the week before was our best performance of the season and we’ve had some really strong displays in the last eight or nine matches.”

Gray insisted, too, that City cannot afford to let their standards slip at all this weekend against an Alfreton team he believes will provide a sterner test than Curzon, having only lost narrowly to championship rivals Harrogate and Salford during the last week.

“They’ve played the two top teams and only lost 3-2 and 4-3 and the Harrogate game, when they were 4-0 down, shows their desire to keep going,” Gray pointed out. “They could have folded, but they showed real grit and they were the same against Salford when their second goal came in the 90th minute.

“I think Alfreton will be a tougher game than Curzon and I’ve told the players that they will get beaten if they under-estimate teams at this level. You’ve got to show respect and give as good as you get.

“Then, hopefully, your quality shines through. They have former players and ex-employees who are coming back here too and they will want to put one over on us, so we’ve got to make sure we do our jobs right.”

Louis Almond is in contention for a recall to the squad, having completed 90 minutes during the reserves’ 1-1 midweek draw with Rotherham, even though he saw a penalty saved in that match.

“I wanted Louis to score that, because I think he needs a goal,” Gray said. “But he looked fitter and more athletic than he did a couple of weeks ago and has put himself into the frame.”

While teenager Vinny Steels also caught the eye in that match, Gray has no plans to promote him into senior football just yet, explaining: “He’s only 16 which is really young and people can forget that.

“I’ve had him since the age of nine and put him into Sunderland and other clubs, but he made a big decision to come here rather than a Premier League club, because of the relationship I have with him. He’s an old-fashioned style winger and, whilst he needs to improve certain aspects of his game, I think he’ll be a top player and one for the future.”