JOSH Carson is hoping his persistent door knocking will convince York City boss Russ Wilcox to give him his first start in six months.

The former Northern Ireland international has not kicked off a competitive senior game since March's 4-1 win at Mansfield, when he suffered a head injury later that night in an incident away from the football club.

Since then, his chances have been limited to six substitute outings but, having been introduced against Saturday's visitors Carlisle on 68 minutes – the earliest he has been used as a replacement all season – the 22-year-old winger went on to earn ten-man City a 2-2 draw with his first goal since February.

On his hopes for a recall to the first XI at Notts County this weekend, Carson said: "I've been knocking on the door for a couple of weeks now trying to get a place, so I don't know what the manager has been thinking.

"But the lads have been doing well, so I can't really complain. I did myself no harm, though, against Carlisle, so hopefully I have persuaded him to put me in for the next game."

The ex-Ipswich midfielder also declared that he would be happy to operate in the 4-3-3 system Wilcox started with against Carlisle prior to Vadaine Oliver's early second-half dismissal.

Carson said: "I really like that formation. We played it for the last 20 minutes at Stevenage and I enjoyed it when I came on there."

With County among the bookmakers' pre-season favourites to make a swift return to Sky Bet League One following their relegation last term, Carson went on to stress that City might face a host team weighed down by expectation in their 20,229-capacity arena on Saturday.

Ricardo Moniz's men have only won two of their opening eight league fixtures and Carson reasoned: "They're a good club who have been up and down the leagues – but maybe, they might be like Tranmere, who went down again last season.

"We have got to take that into consideration, jump on them and try and get the win. There will be a bit more pressure on them from the fans and everyone at the club, including the players.

"They might be thinking it's an easy three points but we have to shake them up and try and get the points ourselves."

Carson reckons the York team will believe that is possible following Saturday's comeback draw against Carlisle after the team were trailing 2-0 when Oliver received his matching orders.

"That came down to the desire of all the lads," he explained. "Everyone wants to work hard for each other and, after we got the penalty, I thought we were going to push on and get a draw or go on and win.

"That's just the way we are. We have that character."

Carson also spoke of his own delight at combining with fellow replacement Emile Sinclair to level the scores, saying: "The gaffer told me to go on and change the game.

"Fortunately enough, that's what I did – as did Emile when he set me up for the goal."

Carson suggested too that his pint-sized stature, the fatigue of his marker and slight of foot all contributed to the 74th-minute equaliser.

He said: "The player I was up against was breathing very heavily and I thought, if I get in front of him, he won't be able to see me because I'm that small!

"Fortunately for me, that's what happened and I got my foot to the ball before he did."