GARY Hobson is unlikely to earn a first team recall for Saturday's trip to Hartlepool despite manager Terry Dolan indicating he is planning a defensive shake-up.

Central defender Hobson, out since August with Achilles and knee problems, returned to full-time training on Monday and was being tipped for a possible inclusion for Saturday's clash at Victoria Park in the wake of Dolan's pledge to wield the axe.

However, it seems Dolan, angry at the defensive frailties shown by City in their 3-2 defeat to Exeter, is anxious not to rush back the former Hull and Brighton defender too quickly.

Hobson is a notable absence from tonight's reserve team squad to face Scunthorpe at Bootham Crescent, kick-off 7pm, which infers he will not be included on Saturday.

Chris Smith and John Fielding, who are now the obvious candidates should there be first-team changes, are included tonight.

City reserves: from Howarth, Thompson, Smith, Fielding, Stamp, Salvati, Wood, Richardson, O'Kane, Fox, Mathie, Collinson, Vasey, Rhodes, Darlow, Ibbetson.

After tonight's match City's third choice keeper, John Collinson, will link-up with Selby Town on three-match loan spell.

Third-year trainee Collinson spent last month on loan at Whitby Town playing two games in the UniBond premier division.

His link-up with the Robins, who play in the Northern Counties East League premier division, will include games against Borrowash Victoria on Saturday, Denaby United on Tuesday and Glasshoughton Welfare a week on Saturday.

City's Under-18s crashed out of the FA Youth Cup at the first hurdle last night, losing 3-0 to a powerful Hartlepool team.

Youth team boss Paul Stancliffe was denied the services of his third-year trainees, including the likes of Leigh Wood, Peter Vasey and Kieran Darlow, because of the competition's age-restriction and was forced to draft in a number of under-16 players.

The City youngsters made a bright start and could have taken the lead on 18 minutes when Daniel Barry was denied by a brace double save from 'Pool keeper Kevin Duncan.

Hartlepool opened the scoring four minutes later, Colin McKenzie firing home from a corner and added a second just before half-time when Anthony Sweeney prodded home a Matty Robson cross.

Hopes of a second-half fightback from City were ended just past the hour mark when Andy Watts fired seized on a defensive mistake to score from inside the six-yard box.

Bryan Stewart, with a delicate chip, and Michael McKenzie, with a flashing drive, both went close to reducing the arrears but it took a fine save from Mark Hampshire in the City goal to deny Steve Manson grabbing a fourth for Hartlepool.

Updated: 12:11 Wednesday, October 10, 2001