TOP scorer Richard Brodie and talismanic defender David McGurk are unlikely to be fit for York City’s FA Trophy trip to Newport County next week.

The tie, originally scheduled for tomorrow, was postponed last night due to the Welsh club’s frozen pitch and permission is now being sought from the FA to change the provisional date for a rearrangement from Monday to Wednesday because the situation is unlikely to change in 48 hours.

Brodie has bruised toes and McGurk a tight calf muscle, which would have ruled them out of travelling to Newport this morning for an overnight stay and the pair are also unlikely to recover in time for the rescheduled game.

Striker Michael Gash would be favourite to fill in for 25-goal Brodie while Daniel Parslow would probably return to the centre of defence with Ben Purkiss recalled at right back.

City manager Martin Foyle said: “Richard Brodie hasn’t trained at all this week because of bruised toes and David McGurk still has a sore calf from the Stoke game. I think this match will be too soon for either of them, but they would definitely be fit for Hayes and Yeading in the league next Saturday.”

Foyle insisted, however, that he does not intend to rest players for the second round tie against Blue Square South leaders Newport, having seen Hinckley United force a replay in the previous round after deciding to make three changes to his starting line-up.

He added: “We wouldn’t be looking to make many changes. These are hard games as we saw at Hinckley.

“I’ve watched Newport and they are a very mobile side with bright strikers.

“They grind out results in their league on a regular basis.”

Given a choice, Foyle would actually have preferred the game to have been played on Monday night to give his side more preparation time ahead of the Hayes match.

He added: “Because Newport have a council-owned ground, they cannot hire it on a Tuesday night so it became a choice between Monday and Wednesday.” The game has been provisionally arranged for next Wednesday.

Added Foyle: I’d have preferred Monday because I’m thinking about the league game on Saturday and want to get it out of the way as soon as possible.

“There’s a chance, though, that the pitch still might not be playable on Wednesday and, if we can’t play the game next week, there’s a full fixture list in our division on January 19 other than ourselves, so it could be fitted in then without us losing another match.”

Foyle is also unconcerned about the snow and ice’s effect on his side’s fitness levels.

“We have managed to train all week and get a couple of good running sessions in,” he pointed out.

“I’m glad we managed to play on Boxing Day and at Stoke as well because that keeps the players ticking over.”

The City boss added that he was pleased to secure the permanent services of on-loan pair Chris Carruthers and Luke Graham.

Midfielder Carruthers has now agreed 18-month terms and centre-back Graham has signed until the end of the season.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get Chris tied up for 18 months because he’s been a revelation for us.

“He’s a good footballer who can play in numerous positions and will get on with it because he has a great attitude.

“The same also applies to Luke.”