OUT-OF-CONTRACT winger Kenny McEvoy would like to stay at York City, but only if there is a chance he will play more regularly.

McEvoy had become marginalised at Bootham Crescent during the run-in to the end of the season, featuring for just a single minute in the six previous games prior to his goalscoring substitute appearance during Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat to Bristol Rovers.

It is not yet clear whether the ex-Tottenham attacker will make Jackie McNamara’s retained list and, at 21, McEvoy is counting on more pitch time next term than he has been afforded by the City chief.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international has started just nine games since his arrival from White Hart Lane in November, initially on a loan basis, before he agreed permanent terms during the January transfer window.

On his hopes for the future, McEvoy said: “Nothing has been discussed yet. I would be interested in staying at York but I just want to be wherever I can play as much football as possible.”

McEvoy is now hoping his cameo against the Pirates made a point after being overlooked for selection as the team plunged out of the Football League.

“For me personally, I felt I proved I can come on and score goals and affect games, which is what I’m kind of about,” the Waterford-born forward reasoned. “It’s obviously been difficult for me because the team were doing well but, then, we went through a sticky patch and I found myself out of the side.

“Results then started going the wrong way for us and that has continued to be the case. I was just hoping for my chance and it’s been a really, really long wait but, I would like to think, after taking my goal, that hopefully I can show that again if I get another opportunity.”

McNamara’s reluctance to select McEvoy has been based on defensive frailties – an area of his game the Gareth Bale look-a-like admits needs to be better.

“Coming from under-21s football, I need to show that horrible side and make sure I am always switched on defensively,” McEvoy reasoned. “He (McNamara) has told me he knows I can do the attacking side and it’s just the defensive side I need to improve.

“I know, when I get the ball at my feet and I am one-v-one, I will, more often than not, beat the man and get a ball in the box or try and get a shot off but, for me now, it’s all about trying to get that defensive side of my game right.

“I’ve been working hard on that so, hopefully, it will click.”

The former Spurs reserve went on to confess that the nature in which goals have been shipped by City this season has been demoralising, with another four at the weekend taking the league campaign tally to 86.

“I think about things a lot and I find it horrible the way we concede,” he declared. “It’s been really hard to take but, with one game left, we need to come together and put what we do in training out there in a game.”