ESTONIAN international Sander Puri will be given an extra week’s break before joining up with his new York City team-mates for pre-season training.

The Minstermen, minus Puri, will report to Wigginton Road next week to begin their preparations for the 2013/14 League Two campaign that kicks off on Saturday, August 3.

City’s 25-year-old summer signing has been given more time to rest having represented his country this month against Belarus, Trinidad & Tobago and Kyrgyzstan.

He is also due to add to his 52 caps for Estonia in a friendly match against Latvia on August 14, followed by 2014 World Cup qualifying contests against Holland (September 6), Hungary (September 11), Turkey (October 10) and Romania (October 15).

There will then be further friendlies against Azerbaijan and Lichtenstein on November 15 and 19 respectively.

On his decision to extend Puri’s close-season break, City boss Nigel Worthington said: “He’s had a busy summer with three international games so he will get an extra week off to allow him and his body to recuperate, then he will be back in with us in early July to join in with everybody else.”

Puri’s arrival is expected to herald an excited response at Bootham Crescent with supporters already reportedly preparing to brandish Estonian flags and banners to welcome him.

City chief Worthington believes the former St Mirren winger will justify the high expectations, saying: “I am delighted to have got him into the football club.

“I don’t care whatever your country is, to get 52 caps is a fantastic achievement.

“I have seen him play on several occasions and he’s a good player who will be a good addition to the group.

“I am trying to build a strong squad with competition all over the park and he is a hard worker, who is gutsy and has great determination and energy.

“He can also scores goals with his head, as he did in his last international, which is a big plus.”

Worthington also reckons that Puri’s ability to speak fluent English will help him acclimatise quickly at his new club, adding: “There will be no language barrier, which is a huge thing because, when you are bringing in players from overseas, it’s all about how many of those little problems you can eliminate.

“That makes everything better for the player and the management and coaching staff and he should be up and running straight away.”

• YORK City’s League Two rivals Oxford United have made a triple swoop in the transfer market.

Midfielders Josh Shama and Danny Rose have been signed from Reading and Fleetwood respectively, while Crawley defender David Hunt has also put pen to paper for Chris Wilder’s men.

Fleetwood, meanwhile, have recruited Falkirk midfielder Stewart Murdoch, while defender Olly Lancashire has moved from Aldershot to Rochdale.

Elsewhere, Lewis Alessandra has left Morecambe for Plymouth and full-back Nick Arnold has arrived at Wycombe on a season-long loan from Reading.