EX-YORK City striker Reece Thompson will not face his old club this weekend due to suspension.

Thompson, 24, will not feature for visitors Boston United having been sent off during their last match – a 1-0 home defeat to Leamington.

His dismissal came after receiving two yellow cards in as many seconds after fouling Callum Gittings and then throwing the ball at the prostrate defender to double his 78th-minute punishment.

With Boston’s subsequent scheduled matches against Brackley and Harrogate both postponed, Thompson has been denied the chance to serve his one-match ban in time to feature at Bootham Crescent.

The former Frickley forward joined the Pilgrims on loan from Guiseley in November and has since netted six times in 14 matches, including four from the last six contests.

City could, however, face two other familiar faces - Bootham Crescent old boys Taron Hare and Ryan Qualter.

Neither player made a senior outing for City, with Qualter released after being one of the stand-out performers in the youth team that finished second in the Football League Alliance’s North-East division in 2010.

He moved to Boston in January from Shaw Lane and could be partnered by right-back Hare in the centre of defence, as he filled in when Jordan Keane picked up a foot injury against Leamington.

With Thompson out, 13-goal top-scorer Kabongo Tsimanga could earn a recall from the bench.

The former MK Dons forward pressed his claims with a hat-trick in the under-21s’ 5-2 victory over Newark a fortnight ago.

Alternatively, manager Craig Elliott could change shape from 4-4-2 and give Salford loan signing Jake Beesley – a winger - his debut with Gregg Smith operating as a lone central striker.

Jack Dyche and Jonathan Wafula, recruited on loan from Scunthorpe and permanently from Gainsborough respectively, could also come into the frame, while winger Ashley Hemmings, who has netted a dozen times this term, will need to be well shackled.

Injured pair James Clifton (hip) and Brad McGowan (ankle) are not expected to return, as Boston aim to register their first away win against any team outside of the bottom eight, having only tasted victory at Leamington, Alfreton and North Ferriby.

The Leamington home loss, meanwhile, was Boston’s first defeat since November, having gone nine games unbeaten – including seven wins and two draws, starting when they beat the Minstermen 2-1 on December 2.

Due to the weather, though, the game will by visitors’ first match in three weeks and they remain just five points above the relegation zone.