YORK City boss Russ Wilcox is hoping loan quartet Diego De Girolamo, Alex Cisak, Stephane Zubar and Carlton Morris will still be at Bootham Crescent next week.

The four players' current temporary terms come to an end after Saturday's home match with Plymouth but Wilcox is discussing the possibility of extensions with their respective parent clubs Sheffield United, Burnley, Bournemouth and Norwich.

City's fifth loan signing Brad Halliday's deal does not expire for another fortnight and Wilcox is keen to keep each player on board for as long as possible, saying: "I'm waiting to see where we are at with our loan players.

" Aside from Brad Halliday, they are all up after the Plymouth game, so phone calls are being made at the moment. Hopefully, we can iron out a few deals for them to stay for another month, or a bit longer, because things are going well for us at the moment and I want to keep this group of players together."

Despite the likes of senior players Ryan Jarvis, Anthony Straker and Dave Winfield all failing to make the bench in recent times, the City boss also confirmed that he would not be sanctioning any potential outgoings until the loan situation is clearer.

Wilcox added: "I will decide whether we allow anybody to leave after the Plymouth game because I need to know what position we are in with our loan players first."

Italian under-20 international De Girolamo remains doubtful for this weekend with the foot injury that saw him pull out of Sunday's 3-0 win at Carlisle during the warm-up.

Wilcox explained: "He's slightly better but he's a concern because the problem is right in the middle of his left foot. We're hoping he will be OK but, if not, Josh (Carson) put in a terrific performance at Carlisle and that's what you have a squad for. "

Goalkeeper Michael Ingham, meanwhile, is expected to be ruled out for at least two more matches with his shoulder problem.

"He's got slight damage to one of the tendons in his shoulder and he's had an injection to speed up the recovery, so we are hoping he will be back for the Stevenage or Burton game," Wilcox revealed.

The City boss went on to admit his side have a tough start to 2015 with January pitting them against five promotion-chasing outfits in Plymouth, Wycombe, Stevenage, Burton and Southend, but he is optimistic the players can meet that challenge, reasoning: "We have got a really difficult January with a lot of the top teams to play but, if we play with the same quality and togetherness we have done during the last two games, we can get more points on the board.

"Plymouth lost on Sunday but had a man sent off and we are under no illusion as to how hard a game we will be in for. They have a bit of quality in their squad and, in Reuben Reid and Lewis Alessandra, I believe they have the best front two at this level but Wes Fletcher and Jake Hyde are pushing them hard at the moment and we are in good shape, so there's lots to be positive about.

"I am hoping our fans turn up in their droves again and as vocal as they have been over the last two games, but with a bit more confidence now at Bootham Crescent."

Wilcox allowed his players to toast the New Year last night before reporting back for training at Wigginton Road this morning.

"There is a 48-hour rule that applies to alcohol before a game so the players were free to see in the New Year with their families and have a couple of beers or glasses of wine, but that's it," he pointed out. "We are in for training today and will be tomorrow with everybody's focus firmly on the Plymouth game."