HE may have only just arrived at Bootham Crescent, but York City loanee Anthony Shandran is already assessing the possibility of a more permanent stay.

Shandran, who is sure to make his second start for City at Leyton Orient tomorrow (3pm) after making his debut against Macclesfield on Sunday, has joined the Minstermen on a month's loan from Burnley.

However, with opportunities limited at Turf Moor and his contract up at the end of the season, he is already talking about the possibility of joining City on a full-time basis should the opportunity arise.

The Newcastle-born striker, who was recommended to Terry Dolan by club skipper Chris Brass, told the Evening Press he would love to stay, with Gareth Taylor, Andy Payton, Graham Branch, Ian Moore, Robbie Blake and Dimitrous Popadopoulos ahead of him in the pecking order at Burnley.

"I'm enjoying it here," he said. "I'm glad of the chance to play first team football really.

"I like the club and the lads here. My contract with Burnley is up in the summer so who knows what is going to happen, but I wouldn't mind something more permanent coming from this.

"I know a few of the lads here, with Chris Brass and Tom Cowan both at Burnley when I was a trainee, and that has made it easier for me.

"I am enjoying myself here. York is a nice place and it is a club I'd like to play for, but it all depends on what happens in the summer with my contract at Burnley.

"If I could stay longer, I would take it as I would get first team football here. There is nothing I can do at Burnley as my way is blocked by so many strikers in front of me. The club bought a lad (Popadopoulos) for £500,000, so he is always going to get picked ahead of me."

He added: "To be honest I don't know too much about the financial situation here, I've heard bits and bobs, but I'm just concentrating on my football."

Shandran, who was signed on the back of City losing Michael Reddy back to Sunderland and leading scorer Peter Duffield to Boston, made a lively start to his City career against Macclesfield, especially considering he has not played many games this season due to injury.

The 21-year-old, who has had spells on loan at St Patrick's in Ireland and Stalybridge Celtic, only returned to action at Christmas after suffering a stress fracture to his tibia in pre-season and has managed just two full starts in the Clarets' reserves.

"I've only just come from injury, I've been back about six or seven weeks," he said. "I suffered a stress fracture of the tibia in pre-season and came back around Christmas time. I've had two full games for the reserves and a couple of bits here and there.

"But I'm happy to be here and playing in a first team, although I could just do with a goal now to get my confidence up.

"Like most people, I play better when my confidence is high."

Shandran has been given a glowing recommendation by City skipper Brass, who was captain at Turf Moor when he was a trainee.

"He'll do well," said Brass. "He is still learning the game, but he has got everything and has had a good scoring record at Burnley.

"When I was telling the lads about him they said he must be Maradona by the way I was going on, but he has got everything.

"It is up to him now to prove, but he is an honest lad who wants to do well. Hopefully he will after the recommendation that I've given him."

City boss Terry Dolan will be looking to Shandran to improve his side's away form which he described as "adequate" today.

"If we had taken a few more points on our travels we would have been in the top three at the moment," said Dolan.

Gary Hobson has aggravated a calf injury so will lose his place on the bench to Stuart Wise.

Stephen Brackstone and Darren Edmondson are back in light training but won't figure tomorrow. Midfield man Brackstone has not played since before Christmas after undergoing an appendix operation while Edmondson has had a problem with a thigh muscle. Levent Yalcin misses out again because of a groin strain.

York City's intermediates entertain Lincoln City tomorrow at the club's Wigginton road training ground, kick-off noon. The Youth Alliance north-east conference clash is one of a number of rescheduled games postponed from earlier in the season.

Updated: 11:28 Friday, February 07, 2003