YORK City's new striker Clayton Donaldson is hungry for first-team football after admitting languishing in Hull City's reserves for the last four years has tested his sanity.

Donaldson was prolific for the Tigers' second string but found Football League opportunities at the KC Stadium limited to just five substitute appearances and was released at the end of last season.

The 21-year-old forward, who made his York debut in Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at Frickley, feels he will benefit from the more competitive test that should be provided by greater exposure at KitKat Crescent.

He said: "I'm at that age when if I see another reserve game I'll go crazy. At that level, you play against a lot of players who are sulking because they want to be in the first team. They don't always put the effort in and sometimes games can feel like a stroll in the park.

"I really needed a new test because your performances can be dragged down as well. People tell me it must have been great to get back-to-back promotions at Hull but I just think about how many games I didn't play.

"I believe if I had been given an opportunity in the first team I could have stayed there. I was scoring goals for the reserves but I couldn't really go banging on the manager's door because the first-team strikers were doing the same.

"I'm a player who wants to be in the team week in, week out, scoring as many goals as I can and proving myself against decent players, who are giving 100 per cent. That's the main reason I have chosen to sign for York because the manager is willing to give me that opportunity."

Donaldson had the chance to sign for a League Two club this summer and League One neighbours Doncaster also offered the 6ft 1in striker a pre-season trial after he impressed during training sessions at Belle Vue last April.

But the Bradford-born marksman feared a move within the Football League, especially to Doncaster, could have left him in a similar scenario to that he has faced at Hull.

He said: "At Doncaster, they have a big squad and were looking to bring in more big-name players so I knew I would not be in the starting XI. I'd probably be on the bench every now and again but even that would be difficult.

"I would have been way down the pecking order and it would have been no different to Hull really."

City boss McEwan watched Donaldson play for Hull's reserves last season and held a number of meetings with the former Scarborough, Halifax and Harrogate Town loan striker over the summer before securing his signature.

Donaldson believes his pace and ball skills mean he is as effective as a winger as he is as an out-and-out striker and he also feels his temporary stays at City's nearest Conference neighbours will benefit the KitKat Crescent club.

"I was unlucky at Scarborough because I got injured in the first game but I feel I did quite well at Halifax under the circumstances as they were struggling at the time," he said.

Donaldson should get another run out as City continue their pre-season build-up at Guiseley tonight (7.30pm).

Trialists Nathan Peat, James Dudgeon, Joe O'Neill, Dave Pounder, Danny Ekoku and Ryan Mallon are all likely to be given a further chance to impress.

Andy Bishop (knee) and Byron Webster (hamstring) will only play if they prove their fitness while goalkeeper David Stockdale, already sidelined by a broken bone in his foot, has now contracted mumps.

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, July 21, 2005