Midfielder Alex Lawless ready for return to York City side for Kidderminster Harriers clash (From York Press)

Midfielder Alex Lawless ready for return to York City side for Kidderminster Harriers clash

10:20am Friday 25th September 2009 in Sport By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

York City midfielder Alex Lawless

KEY midfielder Alex Lawless is poised for a swift return to York City’s starting line-up.

An ill Lawless missed Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Cambridge United, but is expected to have made a full recovery in time for tomorrow’s home match with Kidderminster Harriers (3pm).

Centre-back Alan O’Hare has also suffered from the same bug, which meant he was not among the substitutes against Cambridge but the pair should both be available for another top-ten clash at Bootham Crescent.

City manager Martin Foyle said: “Alex Lawless is much better. He’s not had an infection or anything like that and we are looking for him to play tomorrow.”

Foyle is hoping a return for Lawless would mean the Minstermen’s midfield can retain possession better than they managed in the second period against Cambridge.

Former Wrexham player Levi Mackin, who filled in for Lawless, is the most likely candidate to make way, but Foyle added that all four midfielders might have done better on Tuesday night.

He said: “Levi was a little rusty, as is only natural because he’s not played a lot of football recently. He never lets you down, but the match was different to most of the others we have had this season.

“We needed a bit more pressing in some areas of the pitch from all four midfield players. We kept giving the ball away cheaply which means, against the better sides, you end up doing a lot of running and I thought we looked tired towards the end.”

Goalkeeper Michael Ingham is expected to be available despite limping with his recurring thigh problem towards the end of the Cambridge game.

But Foyle added that he would only play the ex-Northern Ireland international if he was 100 per cent fit and, if he was, then would probably continue his policy of leaving reserve ’keeper Josh Mimms off the bench.

The City chief said: “We gave Michael the day off yesterday, but I expect him to be okay. We will only play him if he’s 100 per cent fit though.

“If he’s 80 or 90 per cent then that won’t be good enough and I will play Josh instead. I wouldn’t worry about pitching him in. Josh has played two or three games for me and never let me down once.”

Like Cambridge, Foyle considers Kidderminster to be play-off contenders this season, adding: “They will be in the top eight at the end of the season so it’s another big game for us that we don’t want to lose. We want to take the game to them and hopefully get the first goal.”

City (probable): Ingham, Purkiss, Parslow, Sangare, Meredith, Smith, Lawless, Barrett, Ferrell, Gash, Brodie. Subs: McGurk, Mackin, Nelthorpe, Rankine, Pacquette.

Kidderminster (probable): Coleman, Courtney, Caines, Riley, Baker, McDermott, Finnigan, McPhee, Smikle, Knights, Barnes-Homer. Subs: Hadley, Matthews, Dolman, Hayward, Farrell.

Referee: Paul Curry (Essex).

Kick-off: 3pm.