YORK City squad man Ryan Mallon has warned his KitKat Crescent team-mates that former club Gainsborough Trinity are "up" for Saturday's FA Cup fourth qualifying round match in Lincolnshire.

Mallon spent the final three months of last season on loan at Gainsborough from Halifax Town and has already received several phone calls ahead of Saturday's match.

The 22-year-old striker is hoping to be included in Billy McEwan's 16-man squad for the Northolme clash and, while he appreciates the Conference North outfit should not be underestimated, believes the Minstermen should be too strong for his old friends and progress to the first round proper.

Mallon said: "Their manager Paul Mitchell is a good people manager and he will get them up for the game. I've also spoken to Danny Wood and Adam Burley, who are two of their better players, and they are up for it.

"They have signed a couple of decent players since I was there as well like David Reeves, who used to play for Chesterfield and Scarborough, and a defender Nick Ellis, who was a lad I was at Sheffield United with and was going to be their next best thing until he got injured. They will try to frustrate us as much as they can but I'm sure we will put in a good performance as we usually do.

"They might be up for it but we will be as well and the pitch is nice which will suit us with the players we have got and how we like to play."

Mallon started City's first game of the season at home to Crawley Town but has since only been used as a substitute once during the 2-1 victory at Forest Green Rovers six weeks ago.

Injuries to Mark Hotte and Emmanuel Panther, as well as the departure of loan striker Jermaine Palmer, could see Mallon back on bench duty at the weekend and he would relish the opportunity, saying: "I'm hoping to be involved in some part.

"It's frustrating to sit in the stands but, at the same time, it's good to see the team winning because it's nice when you do get the call to go into a winning team. All it takes to be called up is a couple of injuries or me doing well in the reserves so I have got to be ready for a chance and I'm on a month-to-month contract so I have got to keep doing well."

Mallon is also hoping that he can convince McEwan he is worthy of a more permanent deal at KitKat Crescent to continue his footballing education under the Scotsman.

He added: "The gaffer is somebody I have always wanted to play under because of how he is. Players need discipline and I have learnt a lot from him that other managers have not taught me.

"He takes things really seriously and is very tactical. I think that's why we are doing well.

"The key to success in the Conference is being a professional outfit and coming in every day to train and work hard. We spend a lot of hours on the training field and sometimes do two sessions a day."

If Saturday's tie is drawn, the replay at KitKat Crescent will be on Tuesday, October 25, ko 7.45pm.

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, October 20, 2005