FORMER Leeds United striker Robbie McDaid will be looking to kick-start his career after signing a deal at York City until the end of the season.

The Northern Ireland under-21 international was released by Leeds in the summer and spent nearly four months without a club.

He has now been unveiled as York's third new capture in a week and is set to make his debut in the club's next National League fixture against Eastleigh on November 12.

"It's been a very up-and-down few months for me, coming from Leeds and trying to go 'around the rounds' with all the clubs," he admitted. "But I am happy to be finally settled and to get back to playing football."

McDaid, who started his career with Irish League part-timers Glenavon, joined Leeds two years ago but failed to make a first team impact at Elland Road.

He spent five months on loan at Lincoln City last season and scored four goals in 16 appearances.

"To be fair, I loved it (at Leeds). It's a great club, great fans, and everyone was really good to me," he said. "But I never got the path there I wanted, I never really got a look in in my second year.

"It just felt, when I came over for pre-season, that I was a bit of an accessory - but I thank them for giving me my first professional deal in England and giving me a foothold in the game in England."

McDaid, who was recently on trial with Championship club Barnsley, revealed that he was contacted by York manager Gary Mills last week.

"I was in with another club, looking at a year of playing under-23 football again, but the gaffer rang and said 'what would you feel about coming to York?' I said I would snap his hand off. I would love to come!

"He is a very vocal manager who had a great career. He has got heaps of experience both as a player and manager. If he can shed some light on me as a player that is all I am looking for really," he added.

Mills has been seeking a new striker since returning to Bootham Crescent as manager two weeks ago.

The Minstermen have now gone ten league games without a win and sit just two points clear of the relegation zone.

"The boys have probably not had the best run of form lately but there's no doubt there's a bit of quality in the team. They are a League One/League Two club," insisted McDaid. "I just want to come in and get in the team. I want the fans to know what I am about. Hopefully, they will take to me and I will take to them."

Mills started the shake-up of his squad last week, signing Wrexham defender Sean Newton and Birmingham City midfielder Charlie Cooper on loan and releasing striker Fraser Murdoch.

McDaid is unlikely to be the last new face and Mills also wants to reduce the size of the squad.

Describing his style of play, McDaid said: "I am a goalscorer and I like getting involved in play. I can drop deep, run the channels, I can even be a target man sometimes. I can do anything you ask of me - but it's up to the gaffer what he wants from me."