STEPHANE Zubar has been offered the opportunity to stay at York City.

The on-loan Bournemouth defender received a red card during the final fixture of his scheduled spell at Bootham Crescent - last weekend's 0-0 home draw against Plymouth - meaning he picked up a four-match ban for his second sending off of the season.

That means he will not be eligible for action until next month but, whilst upset with Zubar's 20th-minute dismissal for an attempted headbutt, City chief Russ Wilcox has decided he would like the Guadeloupe international on board for the rest of the season.

"I would like him to stay at the football club," Wilcox said of the 28-year-old centre back. "I wasn't too impressed with his actions in last weekend's game but I made mistakes during my own career and, as long as you learn, everybody benefits and moves forward.

"Taking away the red card, he has been terrific for us in his time at the club and he's a great professional, which I know from working with him in the past. We should have an answer by the middle of next week on whether he will be staying."

Along with Zubar, the suspended Brad Halliday and injured Michael Ingham, Diego De Girolamo will not be in City's travelling party for Saturday's Sky Bet League Two clash at table-topping Wycombe.

Sheffield United are hoping to recruit forward reinforcements, themselves, before allowing the Italian under-20 international to go back out on loan with Wilcox adding: "He's negotiating a new deal there at the moment, but I would love to have him back here at some stage so, fingers crossed, that can happen."

With Alex Cisak having also returned to parent club Burnley, Wilcox confirmed that on-loan Peterborough keeper Bobby Olejniak will make his full City debut at Adams Park behind John McCombe, who returns to the starting line up in place of Zubar.

The City manager revealed, meanwhile, that centre-back Dave Winfield and winger Anthony Straker, who have failed to make a matchday squad since September and mid-November respectively, would return to the fold in Buckinghamshire. "They are York City players, even though they haven't been in the starting XI or 18-man squad and I'm sure they will do their best for the club if they're needed," Wilcox explained.

But Ryan Jarvis, who has not played a minute since getting sent off during Wilcox's first game in charge on October 18, remains out of favour having only been named twice as a substitute by the City boss.

On Jarvis' situation, Wilcox said: "He's not in my plans at the moment and he's not making the 18, but he's employed by York City to perform for York City and, if he's called upon, that's what I expect him to do. He's been very professional through this period and, while he's disappointed that's he's not figuring, things change overnight in football, so he's got to be ready."

Despite taking on the division's leading side, Wilcox insisted his team will travel to Buckinghamshire with high optimism having taken eight points from a possible 12, but has warned against letting standards slip.

"The players are full of confidence but we've got to build on the last four games and not live off them because, if you think you've arrived as a team, that's when you come unstuck," the Minstermen chief explained. "We will go there with no fear and nobody expects us to win, apart from ourselves.

"We do, without a doubt, because we can compete in and win every game, if we show the togetherness, quality and hard work that we have done over the last four games."

Wilcox is continuing to consider potential loan targets in all positions but has revealed that permanent transfer-window recruits might not be on the agenda.

"I'm not expecting major surgery because I don't feel we are far away and our performances and results are showing that," he reasoned.

"Finances are tight but the chairman and board have supported me and I would like to think the players I've brought in have helped improve results.

"It's all about picking key players and not just bringing in people for the sake of it. They have got to be better than the players who have the shirt or be able to compete strongly for it."

Nick Pope, who starred in goal for City last season during an impressive loan period, will make his Bury debut this weekend having joined the Gigg Lane club on the same terms from Charlton.

The Press understands that a move to Bootham Crescent was never on the cards with Charlton wanting him to experience life at a different Football League club.