YORK City boss Russ Wilcox would consider bringing Middlesbrough winger Ryan Brobbel back for a third loan spell at Bootham Crescent.

Brobbel, 21, netted four times in 19 Sky Bet League Two outings for the Minstermen last season, including three goals against Scunthorpe when Wilcox was in the opposition's dugout, first as a coach and then as manager.

The Northern Ireland under-21 international recently returned to the Riverside following a 17-game loan spell at Hartlepool, who play host to City this weekend.

As yet, Wilcox has not held discussions with the Championship club about Brobbel's availability but has declared an interest in his services, ahead of next Thursday's deadline for loan signings prior to the January transfer window.

The City boss said: "He's a player who cost us the title at Scunthorpe with the goals he scored and the key one was probably the one at Glanford Park right on half-time because, at 2-0 up, we were comfortable until that point. He changed the game and I'm always interested in good players.

"He plays in an area we are looking at, especially if Anthony Straker's injury is going to keep him out now and, while no conversation has taken place yet, I'm aware that he did well at York last season."

Wilcox added that he expects no incoming transfers in time for the trip to fellow strugglers and bottom-of-the-table Hartlepool and, with three loan players already on the books in Alex Cisak, Stephane Zubar and Brad Halliday, he is waiting to hear whether prime target Diego De Girolamo will be given permission by parent club Sheffield United to resume his loan stay with the Minstermen.

The Italian under-20 international, who netted three times in four games for City before being recalled to Bramall Lane three weeks ago, is currently needed by the Blades but Wilcox is hoping that might change next week.

Only five loan players can be named in any club's matchday squad and clarity over De Girolamo's situation will give Wilcox a definite idea on how many other players he will look to add to his squad.

"That's dictated by whether we can get Diego back," the City manager confirmed. "I have to be really respectful about him being Sheffield United's player and I can't push them too much, but Nigel Clough is keeping me fully informed.

"I'm hoping they can get a couple of injured players back and bring in a couple on loan that they are chasing, because that might mean Diego can come back here before next Thursday."

Wilcox has also revealed that he has been given the green light to further bolster his ranks by chairman Jason McGill, adding: "The board are doing their best.

"They have allowed me to dip into the loan market and bring in Alex Cisak, Deon Burton, Stephane Zubar and Brad Halliday and the chairman has said he will look at anything else I require. As a manager, I can't ask for any more than that.

"In terms of the infrastructure at the club, everything is ready to go, so we have to make sure we do better as management staff and players."

Wilcox went on a scouting mission, meanwhile, to watch an under-21 development match between West Brom and Derby today.

Outlining the reasoning behind that trip, he said: "You have to watch a lot of games to find out where the best players are. I've seen Derby quite a lot, but then it's a matter of getting these players out.

"Sometimes, clubs want to develop them in-house, but I know Paul Simpson at Derby and their manager Steve McClaren also comes from York, so you hope that might help."