YORK City boss Russ Wilcox would like to bring Tottenham striker Shaq Coulthirst back to Bootham Crescent but does not expect any loan deal to be agreed in the near future.

Coulthirst, 20, made 11 appearances for the Minstermen and scored two goals – both in a 4-1 victory at Mansfield – during a six-week spell in North Yorkshire at the end of last term.

The Hackney-born attacker has been training with the White Hart Lane club's star-packed, first-team squad in readiness for the new Premier League campaign this week.

Wilcox is also aware that the former England under-19 international might now have options to seek temporary moves to clubs further up the Football League ladder.

Ahead of his team's opening pre-season friendly at home to Middlesbrough tomorrow (kick-off 12 noon), Wilcox said: "I'm always interested in bringing players of Shaq's ilk to the club if they become available.

"Sometimes, though, when you bring in loan players, it can put them in the shop window and they might get moves to clubs in higher divisions. That could be the case with Shaq, as well as Brad Halliday and Stephane Zubar after they did well for us last season.

"The Premier League teams also look to keep their players in-house usually during pre-season and then make decisions around August time.

"I haven't spoken to Tottenham about Shaq yet but we need to remain responsive to injuries and suspensions once the season starts."

Wilcox also confirmed that the possibility of any further permanent additions to his squad being made before the beginning of the new Sky Bet League Two campaign is likely to be reliant on any of the Minstermen's three transfer-listed players – Femi Ilesanmi, Marvin McCoy and Lindon Meikle – moving on.

"It looks like bringing more players in will depend on whether anybody else goes out," explained Wilcox. "The chairman has been very supportive but there is a limit financially and we are close to maxing out on the budget.

"We might need to wheel and deal if we can, but I'm also more than happy to go with what I've got now should we need to do."

Beaten Championship play-off finalists Boro will also be playing their first pre-season friendly at Bootham Crescent and Wilcox reasoned that tomorrow's scoreline would be of little significance.

"It's a tough game but there are no points won or lost at this stage and the focus is on making sure things are right for our most important match at Wycombe on August 8," he said.

"Results don't really mean anything now and we know we will be in for a stern test against Middlesbrough, as we will be when we play Leeds and Newcastle.

"I saw Barnsley look like world-beaters and win 5-0 at Scunthorpe one pre-season but then they didn't win for eight matches when the season started, so I've been around long enough not to read too much into pre-season results."

Summer signings Vadaine Oliver, George Swan, James Berrett, Scott Flinders and Eddie Nolan are all expected to wear City colours for the first time against the Teesside visitors, with Wilcox saying: "I'm hoping all five of them will feature. I've got a squad to choose from and we will be mixing players around."

Michael Coulson could be the only doubt with an Achilles problem but Wilcox will run the rule over his whole squad prior to the pre-season curtain-raiser.

"We'll be assessing everybody over the next 24 hours and then put a team together than can compete with Middlesbrough," stressed the City chief.

"The lads are working hard and really looking forward to the game. You can do all your training but you need match sharpness and we will be looking to start building that up against Middlesbrough.

"We've also been working on shape and a few things in training, so there are aspects of our game I will be looking out for – such as looking after the ball when we've got it and being nice and solid as a unit without it."

Elsewhere, Crawley have signed released Stevenage centre-back Jon Ashton, while fellow relegated League Two new boys Notts County have recruited Slovenian midfielder Filip Valencic, Graham Burke, former Holland under-21 international winger Julian Jenner, Genaro Snijders, Adam Campbell and Kyle De Silva from Monza, Aston Villa, Diosgyor, FC Oss, Newcastle and Crystal Palace respectively.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, have bolstered their squad further with the addition of Bournemouth striker Jayden Stockley on a season-long loan deal.

Ex-Dundee United winger Kudus Oyenuga has moved to Hartlepool, defender Matt Taylor has swapped Cheltenham for Newport and Josh Simpson has left Crawley for Plymouth.