RETURNING hero Jon McCarthy is keen to keep great expectations in check but admits the chance to re-ignite his career at York City was too much of a temptation.

Back on Bootham Crescent patrol while manager Terry Dolan assesses his fitness, McCarthy is aware he still has much to do to earn a permanent contract with the Minstermen.

But he is relishing the challenges ahead - in particular disproving the theory that second comings are rarely successful.

Doncaster Rovers, where he had played after being released by Port Vale, Carlisle, Shrewsbury and other non-League clubs like Woking had all expressed an interest in acquiring McCarthy's international class.

But once York came knocking McCarthy, 32, admits the chance of reviving his career at the club where he first made his name was too much of a pull.

"There was interest from other clubs - Doncaster still want me to go train with them - but I would have regretted it if I hadn't come here to have a look at the situation," he explained.

"It looks exciting and it looks as if they have got a chance of promotion. I know they are sat in 14th in the division, but it is incredibly tight.

"It will be great if it all works out because once I knew York were interested that interested me.

"There is a worry when you come back to a club where you have done well before that you can do it again.

"But that is a challenge and that interests me.

"I am aware that I have some rapport with the fans and it would be great to part of a team that gets promotion again.

"That would be the ultimate, the ideal for me.

"But of course, the other side of the coin is I could come here and have an absolute nightmare with everyone then forgetting the good times.

"But that's the challenge, and that's what excites me."

McCarthy, capped by Northern Ireland 19 times and a player in a Worthington Cup final just 18 months ago, insists his hunger for the game and success burns brighter than ever.

"To be honest, I was hoping to be playing First Division football, especially coming from a club like Birmingham who had just been promoted.

"But it hasn't worked out like that.

"Your pride does take a bit of a blow when you're having to travel up and down the country just to get a game.

"I wouldn't be doing that if I had no desire or motivation. I could be playing non-league football getting some decent money and getting a job.

"I just want to be playing football again because I still feel I have something left in me.

"I didn't really start at York until I was 21 so I came into the game quite late.

"I've had three broken legs so maybe some people remember that and maybe that's one of the reasons I am looking for a club.

"But the desire to get in at a club, earn a contract and play football regularly is still there.

"I'd like to prove a few people wrong and also prove a few things to myself.

"Talk is cheap of course and there are loads of sob stories in football.

"It is now a case of getting my head down and proving it and showing my desire on the pitch.

"And I won't be able to kid anyone here because they have seen me do it before."

Tonight's Division Three game against Wrexham has come too soon for McCarthy.

His first re-appearance is likely to come in tomorrow night's reserve team encounter at Hull City.

Updated: 11:35 Tuesday, October 29, 2002