DIEGO De Girolamo is ready to pass up a stab at Capital One Cup glory to carry on playing for York City in 2015.

The 19-year-old forward watched his parent club win through to the last four of the competition this week, following a 1-0 home victory over Premier League Southampton.

Sky Bet League One United have now drawn Tottenham in a two-legged, semi-final that will be played during the second half of next month.

De Girolamo, who is due back at Bramall Lane on January 4 under the current terms of his loan agreement with the Minstermen, has admitted that he would relish the chance to be involved against Spurs but would not swap regular first-team football for that opportunity.

He said: "I've signed with York until January 4 at the moment and we will see what happens then in regards to where I will be playing. If I have to come back to York City to get first-team football, I will definitely be more than happy with that.

"I went to watch Sheffield United in the quarter-final and I thought they were quality. A good mate of mine Marc McNulty scored and I would love to play against Tottenham whether that's at Bramall Lane or White Hart Lane.

"But, if that was to mean just going back there for that one tie or staying here and getting a lot of first-team games, I would much rather stay here."

For now, the Italian under-20 international, who was coming back from cruciate knee ligament injury this time last year, is delighted to be preparing for his first Christmas programme of fixtures as a senior professional.

On that prospect, he added: "We've got games on Friday and Sunday between Christmas and New Year and I would like to think, even though I am still coming back from my injury, that I am getting stronger, better and fitter. I'm looking forward to seeing how my body will handle playing two games in three days and I think I will be fine to play both."

Despite been unhappy at being used on the wing by the Blades during November in between his two loan stints at Bootham Crescent, De Girolamo also has no objections to occupying a role on the flank for City after operating out wide for the majority of last weekend's 3-2 home defeat to AFC Wimbledon when Jake Hyde, Wes Fletcher and Carlton Morris were employed in central attacking positions for longer periods.

"To be fair, playing on the right wing here is a little bit different," De Girolamo reasoned. "With Russ (Penn) just inside of me, he keeps telling me to push on if the ball breaks forward and I know that I can trust him to fill in.

"At United, I was expected to defend more than attack and that's not really my game. As long as I'm attacking, I'm happy and, if it's helping the team out letting Hydey and Wes play up to, I will happily do it."

De Girolamo has now netted in four of his five starts for the Minstermen and revealed that his latest strike, following a short-corner routine with Michael Coulson, was the reward for the amount of time the club dedicate to dead-ball situations both on and off the Wigginton Road training pitch.

"We practised that corner the day before the game and I think I hit it out for a throw," the Chesterfield-born attacker smiled. "But it went better on the Saturday and that's all that matters really.

"Most of our session on a Friday are based on set-pieces because they are such an important part of the game. We work on them in the video room with the gaffer as well, looking at what opposition teams do and what we are going to do.

"That one was the gaffer's idea and it could have gone either way. I could have played it to Couls instead and then he would have been trying to get a penalty or shot away like I did.

"Luckily, this time it came off and, hopefully, it will next time."

During his short time with City, De Girolamo has already compiled a short series of Goal of the Seasn contenders and, on his personal favourite, he said: "I liked my last goal because I dedicated the celebration to my niece, as my sister has just had a baby but, in terms of finishing, I think my best was the one against Mansfield. I liked that one."

De Girolamo is also enjoying City manager Russ Wilcox's emphasis on attacking football and believes the visitors will adopt an adventurous approach at Bury this afternoon, saying: "It will be a tough game and a battle, like any in League Two.

"The gaffer always tells us we will have to earn the right to play so, hopefully, we will get a good start during the first 15 minutes and take it to them. I don't think we will be holding back. We will go for it."