YORK City today used their unique agreement with Premiership giants Sunderland to draft in Mark Maley on an initial one month's loan.

Maley is the second Black Cats' player to join the Minstermen this season, linking up with team-mate Michael Proctor at Bootham Crescent.

Maley, 20, can play at left-back or at right-half, and is a former England Schoolboys' skipper.

City manager Terry Dolan admitted he was delighted to have landed Maley and revealed the Newcastle-born defender will be in the squad for Saturday's trip to Lincoln City.

However, just where he will feature in the starting-line-up the City manager refused to divulge.

"I have got one or two things in mind," said Dolan, who did reveal any change would not involve a switch of formation.

The highly-rated Maley has been capped by his country at Under-15, Under-16 and Under-18 level more than 30 times and made his debut for Peter Reid's side in the Worthington Cup in the 1998-99 season at the age of 17.

Maley started his career as a junior with Newcastle alongside the likes of Leeds striker Michael Bridges and Sam Aiston, now at Shrewsbury. However, he left United when Kevin Keegan arrived and abandoned the club's scouting programme.

He went to Middlesbrough and briefly Manchester United, partnering Wes Brown in defence, before plumping for Sunderland.

Held back by injury last season, he gained valuable first team experience with loan spells at Blackpool and Northampton.

City first team coach Adie Shaw watched Newcastle-born Maley in action for Sunderland reserves against Bradford City earlier this week before the Minstermen made their move.

As reported in the Evening Press, City, together with their Division Three neighbours Hull, have struck an agreement with Sunderland which sees the Black Cats provide them with players.

City have already reaped the dividends of that agreement with Proctor, who has become a firm fans' favourite in his two months at the club so far.

Hull too have benefited with Michael Reddy moving to Boothferry Park at the end of last week and scoring on his debut in the Tigers' 4-2 defeat at Mansfield Town.

Updated: 11:51 Thursday, September 27, 2001