YORK Cricket Club skipper Nick Kay would not be surprised if Ryan McKendry is being viewed by county sides with envious eyes.

The all-rounder produced another match-winning display as the Clifton Parkers racked up a sixth successive win at Cleethorpes Town last weekend - taking four wickets and striking 56 - and will need to do it again as York face a "defining weekend" in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

They travel to struggling Sheffield United tomorrow before moving on to Yorkshire Academy on Sunday and, now just nine points behind leaders Barnsley, must complete a weekend double if they are to continue their title challenge.

McKendry has a huge part of the super six that has seen York soar up the table and Kay believes he could be a key part of the side for the next ten years - if he is not snapped up first by a county outfit.

"Ryan is one of the best players in the league," he said. "He has got everything he needs to be a top league professional. It would be no surprise to me if counties weren't having a look at him.

"There is no better all rounder in our league. It's great for him. He works incredibly hard at his game and he has got a real will to win. He is focused and he loves his cricket.

"He has got all the attributes that will make a him a fabulous player for us for the next decade."

On their Cleethorpes victory, Kay added: "Last Saturday could not have gone better for us in terms both of our performance and with the weather helping us out. We have closed the gap on Barnsley and they are now looking over their shoulder at us.

"From our point of view, this weekend will be season defining. Two good victories and we will be right up there. If we had a reverse and Barnsley had a good weekend then that would be curtains.

"We have got to beat Sheffield United. The last time I felt comfortable about beating a team was when we played Hull and we know what happened there.

"We can't take any team for granted but we have to win and I would be really disappointed if we lost momentum on Saturday."

Kay continued: "We don't have a great record at Yorkshire Academy and if we are not at our best we will be beaten.

"The Academy are a little younger this year. They have lost a bit of experience but it is going to be a cup final. They love beating York and we have been among the top two teams in the league for as long as I can remember.

"They have been a bit unlucky with the weather this season and we have got to make sure we match them like for like."

Bowler Charlie Elliot returns to the side with Richard Pineo dropping out in the only change from the side that dominated in Lincolnshire.