NEW recruit Craig Dove is out to make a name for himself at York City.

The England Under-20 international, signed on a month's loan from Middlesbrough has been drafted into the City squad to tackle Mansfield Town tomorrow.

Dove is almost certain to start the game and admits he can't wait to swap the shadows of second-team football for the limelight of the real thing.

"I've been stuck playing reserve team football at Middlesbrough for a while now and I've established myself in the reserve team there," he told the Evening Press.

"But that is not where you make a name for yourself and I just want to be playing league football. This is something I've wanted to do for a while and I'm looking forward to it."

City player-chief Brass has indicated he intends to give the highly-rated and skilful youngster a free rein to roam.

And even Dove, 20, admits he doesn't know whether his best position is - as an out and out striker or as a link-man between the forwards and midfield.

However, he is all too aware of the sort of impact the likes of Michael Proctor and Michael Ingham made at City during extended loan spells from Sunderland and is anxious to follow their lead.

"I know York have had a good few loan signings here and Michael Proctor was one of them," he said.

"He did well here, I know that, and hopefully things will go the same for me.

"I don't really feel like I have got points to prove, but the fact we have so many strikers at Middlesbrough means I have to look elsewhere to play.

"I just want to see how things go here this month. I want to fit in, settle down and enjoy it and hopefully things will work out after that."

Brass, excited at having a player of Dove's ability at his disposal, indicated the youngster could be something of a maverick.

"We can't afford to bring in anyone who we don't think will benefit the team," reasoned the City chief.

"Craig is someone I like and hopefully the fans will see someone who is very comfortable on the ball and likes to be on the ball.

"He gives us an other option and he is perhaps something of a luxury. He can go out there and win a match but you might have one or two questions about the other side of his game.

"He is extremely talented, that is for certain, and is someone who I'm sure the fans will enjoy watching and who will bring a lot of positives to the team."

City's youth team can forget their league woes tomorrow when they take their first step in the Youth Alliance League Cup.

The City youngsters, without a win in the North-East Conference so far this season, travel to take on Preston North End in the first round of the competition tomorrow, kick-off 11am.

York City: Ovendale, Cooper, Wood, Brass, Hope, Merris, Dunning, Ward, Bullock, Crowe, Nogan. Subs from: Porter, Smith, Brackstone, Parkin, Dove, Wise, Wilford.

Mansfield: Pilkington, Dimech, Vaughan, Artell, Clarke, Mackenzie, Curtis, Disley, Lawrence, Larkin, Mendes. Subs from: White, Corden, Beardsley, Hassell, Williamson, Buxton.

Referee: Nigel Miller (Co. Durham)

Kick off: 3pm

- A total off previous League trips to Mansfield have resulted in nine wins and six draws.

- City's last win at Field Mill was in 2000/01 when they triumphed 3-1, while their last visit on November 23, 2001 ended in a 1-1 draw. Lee Nogan was the scorer and the side was: Fettis, Edmondson, Potter, Cooper, Brass, Stamp, Richardson, Hocking, Smith, Nogan (Mathie), Proctor.

- City have suffered two heavy defeats on this ground - 7-2 in 1953/54 and 5-0 in 1935/36.

- Players to have represented both clubs include goalkeepers Harold Searson, Graham Brown and Bobby Mimms. Other players are Kevin Randall, Ian McDonald, Gary Nicholson, Brian Pollard and Gary Ford.

Stats by David Batters

Updated: 11:29 Friday, October 10, 2003