YORK City boss Terry Dolan will be forced to make at least one change to his line-up to face Wrexham at Bootham Crescent tonight, writes Dave Stanford.

Gary Hobson is ruled out after suffering a groin strain in Satur-day's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth, while fellow defender Tom Cowan is still sidelined having missed the trip south after aggravating a calf problem 24 hours before kick-off.

That loss has been tempered for Dolan by the availability of right-back Darren Edmondson, who was suspended on Saturday.

The City manager, who may add trainee defender Stuart Wise to the squad, is also hopeful play-maker Stephen Brackstone will be available. The former England youth midfielder has missed City's last two outings with a neck and back problem but trained yesterday and should he come through a session earlier today will be pushing for inclusion.

Dolan was giving little away, but Edmondson could slot in at wing-back with Chris Smith moving into the centre alongside Chris Brass and Scott Jones.

The City manager has also been boosted by the news, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, that winger Lee Cook's loan deal from Watford has been extended. While agreeing to a one-month extension, the Hornets will not allow Cook to feature in City's FA Cup clash with Swansea on November 16.

Having picked up just two wins from their last 11 outings, Dolan admitted he was hopeful of ending October as it had begun.

"We've had a bit of a dodgy month. We started it with victory against Exeter so lets hope we can end it with a win against Wrexham," he said. "Although results haven't gone our way I've been relatively pleased with the way we've played in most games."

Former City boss Denis Smith returns to the Crescent suffering from the curse of the manager-of-the-month award.

Like August winner Dolan before him, Smith, who won the award for September, has seen his side's promising start to the season undone by recent results.

Wrexham have picked up just two points since Smith's accolade and have not tasted a League victory in five outings, although they beat Huddersfield 2-1 in the LDV Vans Trophy last week.

Smith, who guided City to the Division Four title in 1984, has indicated he will make changes.

Brian Carey and Dennis Lawrence could come into a back three, replacing two from Shaun Pejic, Steve Roberts and Dane Bennett.

Wrexham's midfield has a Manchester feel, with former City star Jim Whitely teaming up with Darren Ferguson, an ex-United player and son of Sir Alex.

Updated: 11:37 Tuesday, October 29, 2002