York City were given a massive lift ahead of tomorrow's tough trip to Cheltenham with the news star striker and top scorer Michael Proctor expects to see out the rest of the season at Bootham Crescent.

With transfer deadline day fast approaching the 11-goal hit-man has been linked with move to a string of clubs in recent weeks, most notably promotion-chasing Luton Town.

With Peter Duffield ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a broken leg, Proctor's departure would be a massive blow to the Minstermen.

However, the on-loan Sunderland striker told the Evening Press he was adamant he had spoken to no other clubs and insisted he was happy to stay with City until the end of the campaign.

Then he hopes to sort out his future and is hopeful his sizzling season for the Minstermen could land him a new deal - his current one runs out in the summer - at the Stadium of Light.

"You can never say never, but I haven't spoken to anyone about what is happening next year or what might be happening with Sunderland," he said.

"Of course, it is nice to be noticed, it is flattering. But I just want to sit on it until the end of the season and I cannot see anything happening before then."

Reports from the north-east suggest Sunderland boss Peter Reid may be willing to offer Proctor a new one-year contract such has been his impressive form for City.

And Proctor admits his Premiership ambitions still lie with his hometown club.

"I would like to think Sunderland have been monitoring my progress and it would be nice to think they are still interested in me," he admitted.

"I'm a Sunderland lad and a Sunderland supporter and all I have ever wanted to do is play for Sunderland. Hopefully, that can still happen."

The 21-year-old admitted though whatever his future holds he still has a lot to be grateful to City for.

"I've really enjoyed my time here and I think this year has really helped me improve as a player," he said.

"I had a short spell on loan at Halifax at the end of last season, but playing a full season in the League is a different experience and I have learned a lot.

"It's been very worthwhile for me and I'd like to think I have come out a better player than when I first came to York City."

Having missed Tuesday's midweek defeat at Plymouth Argyle through suspension, Proctor is chomping at the bit to get back amongst the goals and the action at Whaddon Road tomorrow.

"It was disappointing to miss out because I had been an ever present up to then," he said.

"With the two games before that postponed I've not played for two weeks now so I'm really looking forward to Saturday.

"It has perhaps been good for me to have a rest and hopefully I can come back fresher.

"We have got a lot of games coming up in the next few weeks and while we have pulled away from the relegation spot in recent weeks we are not content.

"We want to climb up that table and hopefully that break will have done me good."

With 11 goals to his name, Proctor has now surpassed the eight-goal League tally set by last season's top scorer David McNiven and moved level with Barry Conlon, the top scorer in the 1999-2000 campaign.

Proctor admitted it would be a boost to go beyond Conlon and close in on Richard Cresswell's 1999 tally of 17 strikes.

"I don't really like to set targets and it's more important that the team are winning," he said.

"But it's nice to be top scorer and hopefully I can get a few more between now and the end of the season. It's been a few years since anyone got 15 goals so it would be great to reach that target. Whatever happens, I'll be trying my hardest."

City are taking a squad of just 16 to Cheltenham with young defender Peter Wise stepping down because of injury.

Updated: 11:52 Friday, March 08, 2002