York City goalkeeper David Stockdale is hoping to follow the example of James Dudgeon and Dave Merris by grabbing his first-team chance when it arises.

Stockdale returned from his loan move at Wakefield and Emley to take his place on the Minstermen bench against Canvey Island on Saturday.

Former Azerbaijan Under-21 international 'keeper Farhad Afandiyev has travelled in the opposite direction and began his one-month spell at Wakefield on Saturday with a 5-0 FA Trophy defeat against Fleetwood, leaving Stockdale as the chief challenger to current number one Chris Porter.

Stockdale is not wishing injury, suspension or a dip in form on pal Porter but, should an opportunity present itself, he is hoping to respond in the same manner as Dudgeon and Merris, who have both made skipper Mark Hotte and vice-captain Nathan Peat bide their time for recalls.

The 20-year-old 'keeper said: "The manager keeps everybody involved and tells all players that aren't in the team to keep fit and be ready for their chance. Dave Merris didn't think he would get in but he did and has done a good job.

"James Dudgeon also keeps coming in and doing well and now I'm back I want to be pushing 'Ports' for his place as hard as he was pushing me for mine when I was in the team. We are good friends off the pitch but we also have a healthy goalkeeping rivalry."

Stockdale added that he felt his loan spell at Wakefield had helped him regain his sharpness and also increased his hunger for regular Conference football.

He said: "I got a lot of match practice and made a lot of new friends. It was something different but I enjoyed it and you have got to get used to different things in football.

"It has helped my career and hopefully I have helped some of the Wakefield defenders with the bit of experience that I have got. The crowds were small sometimes and that can affect you more than playing in front of big ones.

"I miss that but there were 1,400 when we won 3-2 at Telford and it was nice to hear people shouting abuse at me again. I think it will be good for Faz to go there because he hasn't been getting many games and, even though they got beaten 5-0, I spoke to Wakefield's manager Paul David and he said that he had played well."

Stockdale is also hoping to concentrate on football now after he was criticised by manager Billy McEwan in the summer for stalling over his first professional contract.

The Leeds-born youngster said: "It was nothing to do with not wanting to be at the club. It was about me looking after myself and considering the cost of living.

"I also appreciate that the manager was only doing the right thing in his job by paying people what he could afford to save the club money, but he's happy now and I'm happy. Hopefully, I can repay him by doing my best when I'm called upon.

"I'm sure Billy is the man that can take you places other than York City or, hopefully, take me up the leagues with York because I would rather do that than move on."

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, October 19, 2005