YORK City could have an unexpected face in their squad to tackle Rochdale at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.

Central defender Stuart Wise returned to first team training yesterday, less than two weeks after being stretchered off in the 1-0 victory at Huddersfield Town amid fears he hard torn knee ligaments.

As reported in the Evening Press, the injury was not as bad as first thought but the youngster was still expected to be sidelined for some time.

However, Wise has surprised the backroom staff at Bootham Crescent with the speed of his recovery.

Providing he reported no ill effects from yesterday's training session the 19-year-old stopper could even be included in the senior squad for the home encounter with the Dale.

Also in line for a first team recall at the weekend could be midfielder Christian Fox, who also returned to full-time training yesterday after recovering from an ankle injury suffered on the opening day of the season.

The imminent return of the duo leaves manager Chris Brass with a welcome selection poser as he looks for his team to bounce back sharply from last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Lincoln.

Brass himself is available for the first time since mid-August after completing a three-match ban while last season's top scorer, Jon Parkin, is also pressing for a starting role after making his first senior appearance of the season as a substitute at Sincil Bank.

A few bumps and bruises aside, Brass has just about a full first team squad from which to select. The only players still sidelined indefinitely are Chris Smith and striker Lev Yalcin.

City are pledging to nurture both players back to fitness after long-standing injuries.

Smith is recovering from a hernia operation undertaken at the end of last season while Turkish youth international Lev Yalcin has been out since the turn of the year with a groin problem.

"Smithy is just feeling a bit of tenderness around the area and we just have to take it carefully with him," explained Brass.

"It is just a matter of resting the problem, which is hard to ask anybody to do. It's frustrating but we can't rush it."

Brass, who has seconded Yalcin to the first team squad this season, said: "Lev is also reporting a bit of soreness but again we just have to take it carefully.

"He has been out something like nine months and so we just have to nurture him back in.

"But when two players like that do become available again it will make the squad look even stronger."

Updated: 10:54 Thursday, September 04, 2003