COVETED Sunderland striker Keith Graydon will provide a deadline-day boost to York City's promotion tilt.

The 20-year-old front-man has twice had a projected loan spell with the Minstermen stymied by the club's parlous financial plight. Each time the Company Voluntary Arrangement was shelved so too was Graydon's recruitment to the City cause.

But with the protracted CVA at long last likely to be sanctioned today then that should clear the way for the Dublin-born striker to link up with City for the remainder of the campaign.

His loan arrival - he has been training with his would-be City team-mates for the past week - will not come at a more opportune time.

Besides City being hit by a double-whammy of bans, Tom Cowan sits out this Saturday's visit of Southend, which will be the last game for top scorer Jon Parkin before he also has to endure an enforced one-match absence - there are likely to be several departures by tomorrow's transfer deadline.

City boss Terry Dolan confirmed that winger Aidan O'Kane is already having trials with North Yorkshire neighbours Scarborough, while defender Mike Basham's exit will be confirmed. He is currently playing in his native south with Chelmsford.

"We are going to need Graydon in because of the bans and such," said Dolan.

"He is a lively lad with a good touch and good awareness, and most of all he is another body when we need him."

Dolan has been trailing Graydon for a while and initially pencilled him in for the visit of Bournemouth ten days ago after agreeing the loan deal with new Black Cats' boss Mick McCarthy. However, the Football League blocked the move because City were still in administration.

Graydon, who was signed from Irish club Home Farm three years ago, has tallied six goals in seven reserve outings for Sunderland since the turn of the year.

More heartening news awaited Dolan. Goal-getting midfielder Lee Bullock, who has missed the last two games with a calf strain, is expected to resume training tomorrow as are skipper Chris Brass (hamstring), fellow defender Chris Smith and striker Parkin, the latter two affected by a stomach bug.

Dolan revealed that Parkin, who leads City's striking charts with 12 goals this term, lost 6lb in weight during and immediately after the 1-1 draw at Wrexham.

Craig Wilding, Alex Mathie and James Okoli were the only senior squad players named in a youth-dominated reserves squad for this afternoon's trip to Notts County.

City Reserves from: Stockdale, McKenzie, Okoli, Anderson, Baynes, Coad, Wilding, Ashcroft, Arthur, Mathie, Stuart, Collinson, McAde.

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, March 26, 2003