BILLY McEwan will look to add another loan player to his York City squad ahead of next Thursday's Conference transfer deadline.

Doncaster Rovers defender Jon Maloney will play his last match of a successful three-month stay at Accrington Stanley on Easter Monday and, even though his Minstermen registration is due to expire on the March 31 deadline, the League One outfit are expected to recall him before then.

That would mean McEwan would be free to acquire another short-term loan signing with Doncaster striker Ben Jackson already on board until the first week of April at least and the City manager is keen to exercise that option.

A replacement for Maloney at centre-back, with McEwan reluctant to pair veterans Steve Davis and Paul Groves together, seems the most likely position he will choose to strengthen.

He said: "I'd like to use the loan we would be entitled to because we are short of bodies and haven't got a big squad. We've got lots of youngsters who lack experience and I will hopefully try to get somebody in.

"I'm looking at centre-backs as I don't think we could play Steve and Paul together and we might go to three at the back."

Long-term loan signing Lee Grant could also be given a chance to impress.

McEwan watched teenage winger Bryan Stewart play for the first time during this week's 1-0 reserve win against Notts County.

Stewart struggled to impress McEwan but the City manager stressed that he would not be making knee-jerk judgements on the youngster who has been sidelined in recent weeks by illness, injury and family bereavement.

McEwan said: "He had a disappointing match but he's not played much football to be fair and the main thing was he got through 90 minutes. He needs to be match fit and you can't judge a player on one performance after he's been out as long as he has."

Updated: 09:26 Friday, March 25, 2005