FORMER York City striker Ben Hirst is joining Northern Counties East League side Pickering Town for pre-season training.

Pikes manager Paul Marshall is hoping to revive the fortunes of the teenager who was released by the Minstermen this summer.

Hirst, now 18, made his Football League debut two years ago and played five times at York under former manager Nigel Worthington.

He had struggled for first team opportunities in the wake of Worthington's departure and spent a period on loan at Scarborough Athletic last season.

Marshall said: "Ben is without a club after being released by York and he is coming here to see if he can get his 'mojo' back. He is still a young lad and hopefully we will get him to start enjoying his football again,"

Hirst, who is 6ft tall, first shot to attention as a member of the York and District under-13 side that won the English Schools Football Association Inter-Association Trophy in 2011.

He was only 16 when he made his senior debut for York against Tranmere Rovers and made the last of his five substitute appearances just under a month later at Barnsley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

"As a young boy, York thought he was very good. Unfortunately, it's not quite worked out for him," added Marshall. "Hopefully, we can get him to the level required for the NCE Premier League."