MALVIND Benning would be happy to pass up the opportunity of running out at Wembley for the chance to play regular first-team football with York City.

Walsall will take a 2-0 advantage into Tuesday's second leg Johnstone's Paint Trophy northern final home clash against Preston, with the aggregate winners going on to meet either Bristol City or Gillingham at the world-famous home of English football on Sunday, March 22.

The Minstermen are due to travel to Accrington Stanley that weekend and, with Benning on the Bescot Stadium fringes, he admitted he would swap a place on the bench or in the Wembley stands for a spot in the starting line-up at the 5,000-capacity Crown Ground.

Benning's current one-month loan deal will expire before the JPT final but he would be keen to extend that stay if he is featuring in City's starting XI.

The 21-year-old full back, who completed the full 90 minutes of the Saddlers' second round success at Rochdale in the tournament, said: "Hopefully, if I'm doing well and starting games, I can talk to the gaffer at Walsall and stay here for as long as possible to play as many games as I can. I would definitely be prepared to miss out on the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final to do that.

"You can only use fives subs in that competition anyway and, whilst I was involved in the early rounds, I haven't really been in the later rounds, so what's better than playing first-team football? The manager at Walsall has agreed I need to play games so, hopefully, I can go back to Walsall a better player and force myself back in the team or, if not, stay here on loan a bit longer."

Benning is aiming to replace City's ever-present left-back Femi Ilesanmi in this afternoon's side to face Burton at Bootham Crescent, but is taking nothing for granted, adding: "I know I'm not guaranteed a starting spot and it's up to me to get in the team but, hopefully, I can start as many games as possible because that will be good for my development and help me progress further."

With three goals during his 48 professional outings, the Sandwell-born defender is also hoping to contribute to his team's efforts in the final third of the pitch.

York Press:

FIRST-TEAM WISH: Malvind Benning

"I'm an attacking full back who likes to get forward," Benning explained. "Of the three goals I've got, two were tap-ins and one was from just inside the box, so I want to provide assists and, hopefully, more goals whilst I'm here."

Benning's move is his first, aside from a brief stint at Southern League Evesham United when he was 18, having been on Walsall's books since the age of eight.

He has never played at Bootham Crescent for the Midlands club but, whilst admitting his switch is a bit of a venture into the unknown, he already feels at home.

"I didn't know much about the club to be fair and didn't know any of the players but they are all sound," he said. "They have helped me settle in well and the gaffer seems good too."

One player with a City association, however, did recommend the club to Benning before his Walsall departure.

Ben Purkiss, now 30, has played 63 games during two-and-a-half seasons with the Saddlers, having started his professional career at Bootham Crescent and Benning added: "He spoke highly of the club and the city and told me to enjoy my stay."