YORK City are running the rule over former Dorchester Town midfielder Franklyn Clarke.

The 6ft 1in trialist played the last half-hour of City’s 3-0 pre-season victory at Stalybridge Celtic, where Simon Heslop, Scott Fenwick and Reece Thompson were all on target.

Clarke, 23, is hoping to land a professional deal with the Minstermen after combining his Sports Psychology and Coaching studies at Bournemouth University with part-time football at Evo-Stik League Southern Premier outfit Dorchester, having previously played for Wimborne Town and Blackfield & Langley.

He is now expected to feature in a behind-closed-doors match at Blackburn on Tuesday, as manager Jackie McNamara decides whether to offer him a contract at Bootham Crescent for 2016/17.

The City boss said: “He’s looked quite good since he’s come in and he’s somebody who was recommended to us, so we’re looking at him. He’s been at university down in Bournemouth and has had a few trials with clubs down there, but has come back up north and we’ll see if anything comes of it.”

McNamara was encouraged by a number of aspects of his side’s victory during a competitive contest at National League North Stalybridge – both in terms of individual displays and the team performance.

“I was pleased with how we handled the physicality,” he admitted. “There were some tackles going in, but you don’t want it being like a testimonial and we kept our discipline.

“We also faced a lot of long throws and high balls into the box and dealt with them, even when we made changes, so it was a good exercise in that respect. There was some quality to our play with Simon’s goal too and we saw how Aidan Connolly’s brain works.

“I thought Ben Clappison was very good as well in his first long run-out for us. We were well organised and should have scored a few more goals, but we moved the ball well and we’re getting better and fitter.”

Heslop’s effort was a spectacular long-range strike, with the City chief revealing such efforts are a feature of the former Wrexham and Luton midfielder’s game.

“He’s done that a few times already in training and I thought he and Clovis did well again,” McNamara enthused. “They are both strong and play the ball simple.”

Fenwick, meanwhile, netted for the first time in City colours since a summer move from Hartlepool and his new manager is backing him to become a regular on the scoresheet.

Of the ex-Dunston marksman’s threat, McNamara declared: “He could have had a good few (against Stalybridge), but he’s a natural finisher, who will get goals. He will get sharper as well, along with the likes of Yan (Klukowski) and (Richard) Brodie.”

Thompson hit the target for the first time since September after being given a 30-minute run-out, with McNamara calling on him to simplify his game afterwards in order to fulfil his potential.

“I know he can be a nuisance by being strong and making the ball break for him, but I want him to do things quicker and know when he has to play the ball first time, rather than just getting his head down,” the Bootham Crescent boss reasoned. “We saw how effective that can be when Connolly gave Scott Fenwick a tap in for the second goal.”

The Minstermen also lined up with a three-man defence at Bower Fold – a tactical approach that McNamara is giving serious consideration ahead of the new National League season.

“We played 3-4-3 and there’s a lot of pace in the team now to get in behind teams,” he pointed out. “Young Kaine Felix is very quick and we’re working on exploiting that, because I think he could be a massive player for us.

“I like a three at the back as well and thought we looked solid, but it only works if the wide men or wing-backs work. They can’t sit in and almost have to be wingers.”