YORK City boss Jackie McNamara admitted that offloading players is now his chief concern during the January transfer window.

McNamara’s squad has swollen to 28 professionals following the arrival of Hull City midfielder Matty Dixon and Newcastle defender Lubo Satka will become another new face when he confirms his loan move to Bootham Crescent next month.

The City boss is keen to move several out-of-favour senior players on with John McCombe, Marvin McCoy and Eddie Nolan all on the unwanted list.

“I don’t know if we will be bringing anybody else in and the main priority now is to move some players on and then see where we are, because it’s not ideal having so many players,” McNamara added. “You don’t want to send players away on a run or make them train with the kids, but you have to work with manageable numbers.

“I’ve also been up front with them and I’m trying to help them get somewhere else to play. Nothing has happened yet but, hopefully, it will do before the window closes because I’ve made my mind up with all of them.”

McNamara went on to suggest, meanwhile, that Burnley striker Ntumba Massanka, who has joined the Minstermen until the end of the season, could be used as an alternative to Vadaine Oliver or alongside the club’s nine-goal, leading marksman.

The City manager added: “They could play together because Vadaine is more of a target man, whereas this lad gets in behind defences with his pace and strength and is a fantastic finisher. We also needed real competition for Vadaine because Bradley Fewster is a different kind of player and we are still without Jake Hyde.

“Competition is important because it’s never about individuals and their egos. It’s about having players challenging for places right through the team.”