AIDAN Connolly will miss York City’s trip to Gateshead tomorrow night and manager Jackie McNamara is set to respond by adding an “injection of pace” into his team.

Ex-Dundee United winger Connolly has been ruled out for the International Stadium clash by a hamstring twinge, meaning speedy duo Daniel Nti and Kaine Felix are in the frame for a full City debut.

McNamara could even field both attackers, as he looks for more forward thrust than has been the case during the Minstermen’s opening three National League fixtures with 1-1 draws against Maidstone and Boreham Wood sandwiching a 1-0 triumph over Macclesfield.

On his selection poser, McNamara said: “There might be a few changes with one forced, because Aidan is feeling his hamstring a bit, which is unfortunate, because he was one of the plusses from the weekend. I think it happened when their player pushed him into the dugout, but he should be OK for the Forest Green match on Saturday.

“Somebody else, though, will come in and get a chance to stay in the team. Gateshead have a big pitch, so we must make sure we use it and I think we could do with an injection of pace in the team.”

Franklyn Clarke will be sitting out the final fixture of a four-game suspension, while City continue to be without crocked trio Lanre Oyebanjo (calf), Danny Galbraith (heel) and Reece Thompson (stomach), who are all expected to be in contention within a fortnight.

Defender Matt Fry is fit again after missing the Boreham Wood match due to a groin problem and is likely to return at the expense of Josh Robinson, who filled in at the weekend.

“He’s naturally left-sided and you need that when you want to play football, but it’s also important you pass the ball well,” McNamara reflected on a possible recall for Fry.

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders, meanwhile, is poised to retain his place between the sticks, despite being held culpable for Boreham Wood’s last-minute equaliser at the weekend when he punched Conor Clifford’s free kick instead of catching it and left Ricky Shakes with an unguarded net to find.

A Flinders punch also led to Maidstone’s goal on the opening day, but McNamara added: “He’s not had a lot to do so far this season and I think he’s been solid overall. “Hopefully, now, he will catch the ball the next time he’s in that situation, because that’s the plan.”

McNamara also suggested that he could look to bolster his ranks by recruiting a new centre forward with Richard Brodie and Scott Fenwick short of match fitness, Thompson still sidelined and first-year pro Nick Kennedy yet to make his senior debut.

“It is a position we could strengthen in, because we need numbers to give us the best chance of getting back up,” the City chief confessed. “I thought Brodes did quite well when he came on at the weekend and the ball started to stick a bit.

“Scott has struggled with a couple of knocks and we’re looking for a bit more from him in terms of work-rate and hold-up play.”