YORK City boss Chris Brass today made good his pledge to draft in fresh blood by signing Premiership starlet Craig Dove from Middlesbrough.

The England Under-20 international has signed on a month's loan from the Riverside and will be added to the City squad to face Mansfield on Saturday.

Brass, who said last week he wanted to shake-up the City squad with loan signings, was delighted to have got his man after tracking Dove, 20, for a number of weeks.

The Hartlepool-born youngster is described as a 'box of tricks' by Brass, operating between midfield and attack.

Brass paid tribute to Middlesbrough and their York-born boss Steve McClaren for ensuring the move went through.

"Fortunately, Middlesbrough have played ball and Steve McClaren in particular was keen to help out his home-town club," revealed Brass.

"Craig is a very talented young player and we are delighted to have him here. A number of clubs were interested in taking him on loan but we have got him.

"He is someone we would like to keep for the remainder of the season but we will have to see how it goes and whether he enjoys himself.

"Hopefully, he can do what Michael Ingham and Michael Proctor did during extended loan spells at Bootham Crescent before going back and forcing their way into the first team at Sunderland."

Dove has yet to feature in the Premiership for Middlesbrough but made his first team debut in last season's Worthington Cup.

In midweek, he featured for Boro's reserves in their 4-3 defeat to Leeds United, setting up a goal for Middlesbrough's record signing Massimo Maccarone.

In another massive boost for City, last season's top scorer Jon Parkin has played himself into contention for Saturday's trip to Mansfield.

Parkin, who has made just one first-team substitute appearance this season, scored on his return to reserve team duty yesterday.

The former Barnsley player came through almost 75 minutes of action unscathed as City's reserves drew 1-1 with Lincoln.

Parkin fired City in front on 23 minutes before Mark Camm levelled for the Imps less than five minutes from time.

First-teamers Stephen Brackstone, Chris Smith, Steve Downes, Stuart Wise and Aron Wilford also played a full 90 minutes to boost their match fitness.

Brass has confirmed he will not be retaining the services of trialist midfielder Jonathan Skinner.

The former Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock player featured for more than an hour before being substituted.

Fellow trialist Andy Kelly, who has been at Bootham Crescent for the past month, missed the match with a foot injury.

Updated: 11:17 Thursday, October 09, 2003