DONCASTER Rovers defender Jon Maloney has admitted he would consider a move back to York City if he becomes a free agent this summer.

Maloney, 19, returned to the League One outfit this morning after scoring his fourth goal in a three-month loan spell during yesterday's 2-2 draw at Accrington Stanley.

The Wetherby-born centre back is now hoping to convince Rovers manager Dave Penney that he is worth a new contract at Belle Vue when his current deal expires in the summer.

However, if he is released by the South Yorkshire club at the end of the season, he would be interested in a permanent transfer back to KitKat Crescent.

Maloney said: "Hopefully I can sort out a deal at Doncaster. I'm hoping that if they find themselves in a position where they can't get in the play-offs then I will be given my chance to prove my worth by playing a few first-team games.

"But I have really, really enjoyed it at York. It's been a fantastic experience for me.

"The boys are great and working with the new gaffer has been brilliant so obviously I would consider a move here if there's nothing for me at Doncaster."

Although Maloney has proved his prowess as a defender with the Minstermen, he will also leave KitKat Crescent as the club's second-highest scorer behind Andy Bishop.

He believes his potency in front of goal has derived from a combination of Billy McEwan's set-piece training drills and a spell as an emergency striker at Doncaster, saying: "I'm not really surprised that I've got four goals. In my second year at Doncaster I was used as a striker in the reserves and youth team because there were a few injuries and I got a few goals then.

"We've also been working on getting in the right areas in training where the ball is more likely to come to you. I'm not really interested in being a striker though because I really enjoy playing at the back and pitting my wits against forwards who are trying to score.

"I think playing up front in the past has also helped me as a defender because I used to make the runs that the strikers I defend against now make."

Maloney also believes he returns to Doncaster as a better player having benefited from the experience of City's senior professionals.

He said: "I learned something new in every game I played and the experienced players like Paul Groves, Steve Davis and Kevin Donovan have been brilliant to me. They have helped me through and I feel that I have improved and become stronger by the game."

McEwan joked: "Jon has proved he's deadly from a yard. He gets in those positions and has done well for us but he has also been there when we have needed him as a defender. It's unfortunate that we couldn't have kept him until the end of the season but those are the rules."

Lev Yalcin was also given only his third start of the season - and his first under McEwan - at Accrington.

Updated: 10:14 Tuesday, March 29, 2005