YORK City vice-captain Nathan Peat faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after being told he has a fractured leg.

Peat has been troubled since September with a calf problem that was believed to be deep bone bruising but the 23-year-old left-back limped out of the action in the first half of Tuesday night's 0-0 reserve draw against Darlington and further scans on the problem area have now revealed a fracture.

City boss Billy McEwan said: "It's very disappointing and a blow for the player and for the squad as he's been working hard to get back for the last ten weeks."

Emmanuel Panther, meanwhile, is making encouraging progress in his return from ankle ligament damage, having seen a specialist yesterday, but is unlikely to be back in first-team action before Christmas.

Updated: 10:53 Friday, November 18, 2005