FIT-AGAIN striker Andy Bishop has two reasons to shoot down table-topping Barnet tomorrow afternoon.

Bishop, who celebrated his 22nd birthday this week, will first be hoping to secure maximum points for the Minstermen at Underhill and will also be aiming to cement his place in the England National Game XI squad.

The former Walsall forward is expected to recover from a calf injury to face the Bees, who are managed by Paul Fairclough - the National Game XI manager.

Bishop and teenage City goalkeeper David Stockdale have both been selected for a 30-man provisional squad that will be whittled down to 16 on November 7 with the Under-23 Conference team travelling to Italy to take on a Serie 'C' side three days later.

City boss Chris Brass is hoping the European trip could provide an added incentive for his young stars ahead of tomorrow's tough match.

He said: "We have got to make sure Andy is right but it looks like he will be back. It will be the last chance for both Andy and David to show Paul Fairclough what they are capable of.

"I am sure if they produce it will give them a great opportunity to get on that plane to Italy. It would be a great experience for them and one they both fully deserve."

Even though Lee Nogan's rib injury is less serious than first thought, City's player-coach is unlikely to figure at Barnet, meaning Paul Robinson looks set to be reunited in attack with Bishop.

That could leave Lev Yalcin, youth-team striker Robbie Haw and Adam Arthur fighting it out for the vacancy left by Robinson on the right wing.

Yalcin failed to shine in his first start of the season against Canvey Island on Saturday but Haw, 17, impressed as his 80th-minute replacement and Brass could even be tempted to hand him his first senior start.

Brass said: "Lev was disappointing on Saturday by his standards but we have worked on him a lot in training this week and he's reacted well. He's still learning and, as a forward, you are maybe there to be shot at more than players in other positions.

"People, including me, expect results quicker sometimes but he's raw and it's a case of getting the best out of him psychologically and physically. It's a test of my management skills.

"We are telling him what he's good at and what he's still got to learn but he's still got a lot of positives and is willing to listen. We have got to keep teaching him and, even if he's not in the side, it's nothing against him.

"He might be in and out of the team until he makes the jersey his own."

Graeme Law, who could return to training next week after a hamstring injury, skipper Steve Davis and midfielder Kevin Donovan will still be sidelined, but Brass has called on his remaining players to rise to the challenge of facing a team currently six points clear at the top of the Conference.

He said: "A good result would breed confidence for us. Barnet are being seen now as champions-elect and everybody expects them to steam-roll teams, especially after winning at Carlisle, but we are going there to win. We will be making it difficult for them and hoping to enjoy the recent possession we have enjoyed while also being more ruthless."

Updated: 10:38 Friday, October 22, 2004