York City loan star’s stay may be extended (From York Press)

Daniel Kearns' York City loan period may be extended

12:00pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Sport By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

PETERBOROUGH United midfielder Danny Kearns is open to the possibility of extending his loan stay with York City beyond the current one-month deal.

Kearns has featured in all three games since his arrival from London Road, starting the last two fixtures and impressing during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bradford City.

The Republic of Ireland under-23 international, who is under contract with the Posh until the summer of 2014, played 20 games in the Championship last season after signing from Dundalk but was unable to break into the team this term and has welcomed the chance to play League games again.

He said: “Whether I stay for longer than a month depends on what happens during the next couple of weeks and how many games I play, as well as what people think and what York think. When it comes to that time, I will chat to the manager here and at Peterborough to see what everybody thinks.

“It was a bit frustrating at Peterborough. During pre-season, I picked up an injury and couldn’t get back in the side so I spoke to the manager (Darren Ferguson) and he said he thought it was right for me to get some games on loan.

“That’s why I came to York and, hopefully, I’ve done all right in the last couple of games and can keep it going because I just want to play games. I was only playing reserve matches at Peterborough so this is an opportunity to play in a good league in front of big crowds like Saturday and it’s good to be back playing first-team football.”

Kearns, 21, is also enjoying playing in a midfield triumvirate with Scott Kerr and Matty Blair with the three players having lined up together in City’s last two fixtures.

Adding that he feels comfortable in manager Gary Mills’ favoured 4-3-3 formation, Kearns said: “I’ve been impressed with the boys over the last few games and enjoyed it so far.

“Scott Kerr and Blairy are two great players. I played in the friendly for the reserves with Scott when I first came here and he’s very good on the ball. He gives you it and wants it as well.

“Blairy sort of bombs on and I think we’re working well together. I played in a midfield diamond last year, which is a bit different because you have no wide men as such, but I’m capable of playing anywhere across the middle.”

Despite the visitors taking a first-half lead at Valley Parade on Saturday, Kearns conceded that a draw was probably the right outcome against a Bradford side who were dropping points in front of their own fans for only the second time this season.

He said: “It was a fair enough point in the end.

“We were delighted to get a goal in the first half and, while it would have been nice to see it out, they scored a great equaliser in the second and it was a good point for us.”

Bradford’s marksman at the weekend Zavon Hines was a member of the same West Ham youth team that Kearns played for as a teenager and the City new boy admitted that he enjoyed a great grounding at a club famous for nurturing the talents of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard.

“There was no better place to start my football career and I really enjoyed it,” he said.

“The academy is known right across the world so it was a great experience for me.”

Kearns has also played alongside the likes of City pair Paddy McLaughlin and Lanre Oyebanjo in the past on the international stage.

He was part of the same Northern Ireland under-19 side as McLaughlin before switching allegiance and representing Eire U21s with Oyebanjo. McLaughlin and former Northern Irish full international Michael Ingham have not, however, ribbed him about that decision as yet.

“It was for footballing reasons,” Belfast-born Kearns said on his nationality swap. “I haven’t really talked about it with Paddy and Inghy and nothing much has been said.”