YORK City manager Russ Wilcox’s desire to bring Diego De Girolamo back to Bootham Crescent has not been dampened by the signing of Emile Sinclair.

Barring Sheffield United’s FA Cup fourth round meeting with Preston this weekend leading to a replay, De Girolamo is expected to be let out on loan by Bramall Lane boss Nigel Clough early next week.

And Wilcox wants the Italian under-20 international to return to North Yorkshire for a third spell this term with his previous two stints reaping four goals in eight outings.

The Blades are also looking to recruit Dutch frontman Kevin Van Veen and Brighton attacker Chris O’Grady before this month’s transfer window closes, which would mean De Girolamo would be best served furthering his football education elsewhere until the end of the campaign.

Should he rejoin the Minstermen, Wilcox would then have five forwards on the books with Sinclair, Jake Hyde, Wes Fletcher and Carlton Morris already vying for starting places, but the ex-Scunthorpe chief would have no problem with such a scenario.

He said: “Nigel Clough has been great again and told me they would like Diego to stay until after the weekend because they’ve got Preston in the Cup and have players who are ineligible for that match. A decision will then be made afterwards.

“Personally, I would be delighted if Diego comes and gives us a fifth striker in the squad. It would lead to issues in terms of who to play, but I would certainly rather have it that way with game changers and back-up on the bench.

“I think that gets another ten or 20 per cent out of whoever is playing and, as a forward, whether you start the game or not, nine times out of ten you get on the pitch at some point anyway. Changes are normally made at the top end of the pitch or the wide areas, especially with the heavy pitches at the moment.”

Wilcox also revealed that he is still hoping to strengthen other areas of his squad before the end of the month, adding: “I’d like more players in different positions.

“I’m not looking for too many, as I don’t feel we are too far away, so it’s not panic stations, but you should always look to add quality and never be satisfied with what you’ve got.”

On the addition of Sinclair from Northampton, meanwhile, Wilcox explained how swiftly he acted when the 27-year-old came on the market.

“Emile will bring pace, power and experience to the group,” the City chief pointed out. “I’ve always liked him and I feel very positive about his signing.

“I watched him destroy Hull City at the KC Stadium a few years ago and have monitored him ever since. I didn’t realise he was available because he only signed a two-year deal at Northampton in the summer, but that’s football.

“You have to take opportunities when quality players come your way and I was quick to get him in the building with the backing of the chairman again.”

York Press:

PACE AND POWER: York City manager Russ Wilcox and new man Emile Sinclair

Wilcox went on to suggest that a return to Yorkshire after indifferent spells with Crawley and Northampton will be the platform for Sinclair to kickstart his career again, reasoning: “I feel I can get a bit more out of him than his last few managers have done.

“We want to get him firing again and I think getting him back in the north will help. He’s a Leeds boy but he’s played a lot of his football in the south and commuting, like he has been doing, takes a lot out of you.

“I lived in Doncaster and played for Preston for a while but then I moved to Scunthorpe which was 14 miles down the road and, to be honest, I think that added another two years to my career. Having family time is important too.

“You have to work away from home in this business at times but it’s nice when you find a club that’s nearby and 30 minutes from home. That can make a big difference.

“Hopefully, we can get him up to speed fitness wise and scoring some goals.”

The City manager reckons that 6ft Sinclair can provide muscle to his team’s front line too, explaining: “In League Two, you have got to do the ugly bits and earn the right to play football.

“We might not have done that during the last couple of games. We need to keep the ball at that top end of the pitch a bit more and make it difficult for the defenders to get distance on their headers.”

Whether Sinclair will start Saturday’s home match against Burton, however, is uncertain.

“It’s important to add competition to the group, but he’s not guaranteed a shirt and nobody is,” Wilcox said. “You have to earn your place in the team and keep it, but it’s nice to have four strikers who we can mix and match and great to have two on the bench that we can bring on.”