OUT of favour York City midfielder Christian Fox was today linking up with Irish side Larne.

He has joined them on loan until the end of the season but there is no suggestion the loan move will become permanent.

Manager Terry Dolan is simply anxious for Fox, who has struggled to make an impact since recovering from a major knee operation a year ago, to play first-team football.

City will have power of recall on the player at any time.

Speaking to the Evening Press after Wednesday night's reserve game with Darlington, Fox had indicated his desire to win back a first team place at Bootham Crescent.

Fox, who has dropped down the pecking order in recent weeks and did not even make the squad for Leyton Orient in midweek, admitted it had been a frustrating time but was adamant his star will rise again.

"I've just got to wait for my chance and keep plugging away in reserve games and training," he said. "I've got to keep fit, wait for my opportunity and keep patient and do it for myself really.

"If the gaffer then decides to give me a chance then I've got to take it."

Fox insisted his knee problems that prompted major surgery this time last year were no dead and buried.

"The knee is fine and I have had no problems so fingers crossed it will be all right now," he said.

Larne play in the first division of the Irish League, which is made up of ten clubs.

The League which is split into three divisions, boasting a premier division which includes the likes of Glentoran, Linfield and Ards, where Alan Fettis began his career.

Meanwhile, skipper Chris Brass returns from suspension at promotion-chasing Luton tomorrow, but central defender Matt Hocking misses out because of a one-match ban.

City will check on Nick Richardson, who was not available for the 2-1 win at Leyton Orient in midweek because he injured a knee in training.

Smith could come into defence, or if Dolan opts to stick by young midfielder Leigh Wood, who was impressive in midweek, Brass could fill a defensive slot alongside Mike Basham and Steve Parkin.

Luton have inquired about Watford's transfer-listed £900,000 former Wimbledon striker Marcus Gayle but no deal is expected to go through before the weekend.

After last Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Scunthorpe, Luton got their promotion challenge back on track in midweek with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Bristol Rovers but they will have defenders David Bayliss and Russell Perrett and midfielder Kevin Nicholls all missing throughsuspensions tomorrow.

Updated: 12:20 Friday, February 22, 2002