York City new boy Paul Harsley poised for major role at Mansfield (From York Press)

York City new boy Paul Harsley poised for major role at Mansfield

11:00am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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YORK City manager Martin Foyle believes new loan signing Paul Harsley can complete 90 minutes to ease the midfield crisis at his club.

With Alex Lawless (hamstring) and Chris Carruthers (ankle) still crocked, Levi Mackin suspended and Neil Barrett (hamstring) also doubtful and a sickness bug claiming two other victims, Harsley is likely to be asked to go the full distance during tonight’s Blue Square Premier clash at fellow play-off hopefuls Mansfield.

The former Port Vale captain, signed from Chesterfield by Foyle, has only played three full games since December 2008.

They came during a loan spell with Darlington three months ago while his last start for Chesterfield came back in August during a Carling Cup tie at his home-town club and former employers Scunthorpe.

Since then, Harsley, 31, has only made four substitute appearances for the Spireites but Foyle, who handed him his City debut as a 65th-minute substitute for Mackin during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Altrincham, is not concerned about a lack of match practice.

The City boss said: “He can play 90 minutes – no problem. He’s played in the Football League for his whole career and I saw him play a reserve match two weeks ago.

“There’s no issue with his fitness at all and he’s also a versatile player who can play in an advanced midfield role.”

Centre-back David McGurk could be available again after missing the last two matches with a knee injury, but Foyle does not feel the need to rush The Press Player of the Year leader back into action having seen his side keep a clean sheet on Saturday when Altrincham failed to muster a single shot on target.

Foyle added: “Whoever we have played defensively over the last three of four months, it hasn’t hampered us.”

Mansfield currently sit five points behind the sixth-placed Minstermen and Foyle believes an away win tonight could extinguish their play-off hopes.

He said: “They will have to come at us and try to get three points because, if we beat them, it could end their chances of getting into the top five. It’s a massive game and I’m expecting a battle.

“They are a very big and direct side who are strong at set-pieces, but can play a bit as well.”

The Stags will be playing a fourth consecutive game at home but were booed off at the end of Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Tamworth and, seven days earlier, an unimpressed fan threw his season ticket at manager David Holdsworth despite the team leading at the time and going on to clinch a 4-2 victory over Salisbury.

But Foyle does not believe that atmosphere will affect the side ahead of this evening’s game, saying: “You have to take that in the modern game.

“Everybody has a massive say these days and I don’t think it will perturb them. I just want our fans to be as supportive as they were at Altrincham on Saturday.”

But Foyle’s attempts to add further loan signings to his squad, following Harsley’s arrival, have so far proven fruitless.

“I had two lined up, but they’d rather sit on their backsides and play for the reserves,” he said.