ATTACKER Michael Coulson could operate in a variety of roles in York City’s new 3-4-1-2 formation according to manager Russ Wilcox.

Coulson is available for tomorrow afternoon’s vital home match with fellow strugglers Cheltenham after recovering from the stomach problem that has kept him sidelined for the last two games.

The Scarborough-born 26-year-old, who is City’s leading provider of assists this season with 11, is likely to start the game on the bench but Wilcox believes the team’s new system offers a whole host of opportunities for him.

“Michael is flexible,” the City chief reasoned. “He plays on either flank so one of the wing-back roles could suit him but he could also play behind the front two or as one of the strikers.”

Wilcox has also added that he is pleased with the invaluable experience rookie keeper Jason Mooney is gaining during his loan spell at Alfreton.

The 6ft 8in shot-stopper only has nine games to his name at Football League level but has managed 13 appearances at the Conference club, where he has only let in two goals during the last seven matches to help hand the Derbyshire outfit a lifeline in their fight to beat the drop.

“We’ve received all the clips on Jason and he knows that to develop he needs to play games where you have to make key decisions,”

Wilcox said. “You don’t get that in training. You need to be doing that in games that mean something and they are down near the bottom with a hard run-in against most of the top teams.

"They had a terrific result to draw 1-1 against the league leaders Barnet at the weekend and are on a decent run.

“They are at Bristol Rovers on the last day of the season when he could be playing in front of 7,000 or 8,000 for a team trying to stay up against one trying to win promotion, which is great experience for him.

Wilcox, meanwhile, reasoned that it would be difficult to second-guess new Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson’s tactical approach to the game following his appointment on Monday.

The two men last crossed swords in League One during August when Wilcox secured a 1-1 draw for his then Scunthorpe team at Johnson’s Yeovil.

“It looks like a last roll of the dice and I’m not sure how many clubs will have had four different managers this season,” Wilcox said of the Whaddon Road upheaval this term. “Gary is in a no-lose situation really.

“They are bottom of the league so the only way is up. If he saves them from relegation, he’ll be a hero.

“If he doesn’t, it will be down to things that happened previously. He comes in full of experience and know-how but he can’t bring in new personnel.

“We can’t really predict what he might do either. He may play a new system or make six or seven changes but it’s important that we concentrate on ourselves and what we can do to win the game anyway.”