YORK City were hoping to strengthen their squad today with the unveiling of a new loan signing that could pave the way for wing play.

Although City manager Terry Dolan was keeping the name of the player under-wraps, he confirmed the his target is a left-sided attacking player.

The arrival of a wide-man suggests City, who have struggled to score goals in recent weeks, may be ready to change their formation from 3-4-3 to a more traditional 4-4-2.

City clearly have problems on the left-hand side of defence ahead of Saturday's long trip to Exeter.

Tom Cowan is ruled out through suspension while Gary Hobson is struggling with a hamstring strain and Scott Jones is recovering from a groin problem.

One option open to the City manager would be to play Graham Potter as a left-back in a flat-back four, with today's new signing available to play out wide on the left.

On the right, Darren Edmondson could also revert to full-back with Argentinian winger Nicolas Mazzina perhaps starting out on the right flank.

Dolan said: "We are hopeful the deal will be completed by the end of today but I do not want to say who it is until everything is signed and sealed."

The City manager is keen to pep-up his squad after admitting his side have lost their early-season "spark" in recent weeks.

City chairman John Batchelor said: "It is quite an exciting signing.

"It is not a mega-mega-deal but it should provide, should we complete the deal, a new opportunity as to the way we play."

Updated: 11:15 Tuesday, October 01, 2002