SUNDERLAND midfielder Robbie Weir’s loan stay at York City has been extended until January.

Weir’s original one-month spell had been due to expire after next weekend’s FA Trophy home tie with Boston United but City manager Gary Mills has been impressed enough to ask the Premier League Black Cats for permission to keep him longer.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international has not yet featured on a losing City team during six appearances for the club and the City boss said: “We have extended Robbie’s loan until January.

“He works hard and is somebody who breaks a lot of the game up and gets the ball back quickly for you. He also sees a pass and is always comfortable to receive the ball.

“He’s a fit lad who’s totally committed in what he does and I’ve been impressed with him.”

Mills admitted he had originally considered taking Weir on as cover and competition at right-back for Daniel Parslow.

With Parslow injured for the 2-0 FA Cup win at Darlington last weekend, Weir did deputise in that position but Mills believes he is best suited to a midfield role, adding: “Robbie did a job at right-back and he’s been playing there a bit at Sunderland.

“When I played him as a trialist in the game at Middlesbrough, he played at right-back in the first half and then in midfield for the second. I liked him better there to be honest and that’s why I brought him in.”

With Weir staying at Bootham Crescent for a further month and new signing Andre Boucaud now hoping to cement a place in midfield, Mills added he would still like to find loan moves for some of his players to Blue Square Bet North outfits, which is permitted even before the transfer window reopens in January.

Levi Mackin is a prime candidate for a temporary switch having not started a game since suffering knee ligament damage on the opening day of the season but Mills added the cold snap might prove troublesome in that respect too.

He said: “Nothing has happened so far but I’m not sure anybody wants to take people on loan and pay them while the weather is like this and there are no games on. When the snow clears though, I would like to think we can get a couple of players out.”