BRAD Halliday is expected to get the nod over Marvin McCoy as York City's right back for Saturday's home clash against Stevenage after extending his loan spell at Bootham Crescent until the end of the season.

Antigua and Barbuda international McCoy has started the Minstermen's last three matches while on-loan Middlesbrough teenager Halliday was suspended following his red card for dangerous play during the 1-0 home victory over Accrington Stanley.

But Halliday, who was preferred to McCoy prior to his dismissal, impressed the watching Wilcox during a Middlesbrough under-21s match this week and the City boss also felt both of his full backs could have done better during last weekend's 1-0 defeat at table-topping Wycombe.

On his selection options, Wilcox said: "Brad will come straight back into the squad, but we will have to decide whether he starts. He's obviously done well for us and I was a little bit disappointed that our full backs did not peg Wycombe back a bit more with the 4-3-3 system they played last Saturday.

"It's a tough decision between Brad and Marvin, but we will sit down and look at the strengths and weaknesses of Stevenage before making it and I want that competition in every position.

"We've got it at centre half, where Stephane Zubar has come in, but Dave Winfield is fit again and is coming into my thoughts."

City are also still sitting tight on a decision concerning Sheffield United striker Diego De Girolamo's future.

The Blades' boss Nigel Clough has now suggested that Italian under-20 international De Girolamo might not be available for a third loan stint at Bootham Crescent until later in the month with a patient Wilcox reasoning: "I'm not saying I'd be happy if that was the case but we can't get frustrated because we have to be respectful of the fact that he's a Sheffield United player and Nigel Clough has been very honest and straight with us.

"I will wait for a decision and, hopefully, it will be made soon. If not, we will move on to other things."

Wilcox has suggested, meanwhile, that the door might not be closed on Ryan Jarvis' Minstermen future despite allowing the ex-Norwich forward to join Aldershot on loan for the rest of the season when he will then be out of contract.

"I've no idea whether Ryan Jarvis has got a future at York City," the City boss explained. "If he goes and scores 15 goals for Aldershot then he probably would have, so who knows?

"Football changes quickly with lots of twists and highs and lows."

With Zubar suspended and Michael Ingham still injured, Wilcox will just have enough senior professionals to select a matchday squad of 18 players against Stevenage, not including first-year pro Ben Hirst, but he would not rule out further loan moves for out-of-favour professionals.

"I would consider that," he admitted. "As a former player myself, I know it's frustrating when you're not getting first-team football and there probably will be inquiries for players this month, but I will make the final decision because I don't want to leave myself short."

Wilcox has also called on his players to show the appetite for a fight against a Stevenage side renowned for their muscular approach.

"They've had four wins and a draw in the last five games and I know all about Graham Westley teams," the Minstermen boss added. "If you don't turn up and win the battle, you don't win the game.

"We will have to win a lot more first and second balls than we did at Wycombe, but also try and play our football, because we will be going out to take three points. I'm not a defensive manager and I want us to take the game to teams and play open, expansive football when we can."