FORMER York City midfielder Scott Brown will not face his old club tomorrow after being ruled out by a hamstring injury.

Brown, 30, was a surprise addition to Accrington Stanley’s promotion-chasing squad in January having only played four times for National League Grimsby this season.

The one-time Everton trainee had also been plying his trade in non-League football for five seasons, including a spell at Bootham Crescent, which saw him make a 37th-minute substitute appearance for the injured Jon Challinor during the club’s Wembley play-off final victory over Luton in 2012.

He was subsequently released by City and, following spells at Macclesfield, Southport and Grimsby, has been given a second chance at League level by Stanley, where he has netted three times in a dozen outings.

Brown missed the 2-1 midweek win at Hartlepool though and will play no part against Jackie McNamara’s men with another player familiar to visiting fans expected to continue deputising in one of John Coleman’s 4-2-3-1 anchoring roles.

Brad Halliday, who was on loan with the Minstermen last season, continues to impress at the Crown Ground having joined Accrington from Middlesbrough on the same basis this term and has been switched from right back into midfield.

The 20-year-old utility man has played 31 games and been a virtual ever-present since his October arrival.

Another third Bootham Crescent old boy Jason Mooney is set to watch from the bench, though, having lost his place to ex-Derby reserve Ross Etheridge after making 29 appearances following his summer switch.

Glasgow Rangers-bound midfielder Matt Crooks and defender Dean Winnard both remain unavailable, meanwhile, due to ankle problems, although centre-back Joe Wright is back in contention following a knee injury.

Despite currently sitting second in the table, following an unbeaten run of nine games when 21 points have been taken from a possible 27, Stanley are only stationed one point above the play-off zone.

The 2006 Conference champions have, however, scored in all of their last 29 home games – a run stretching back to March 2015 – with only Manchester City, from English football’s top four divisions, having netted more league goals in front of their own fans than the 40 Accrington have managed this season.

Ex-Scunthorpe and Burton striker Billy Kee is the leading marksman with 17 goals and, after three months sidelined by a groin injury, fellow forward Josh Windass has returned to net three times in the last five matches.

Windass will be looking to score against City for a fourth consecutive match tomorrow.

Despite their recent charge into the automatic-promotion places, however, Accrington have only won three of their last nine home games.

Accrington (probable); Etheridge, Pearson, Hughes, Davies, Buxton, Halliday, Conneely, Mingoia, Windass, Fosu-Henry, Kee.