STAND-IN skipper Scott Flinders has been challenged to claw York City out of trouble having led Hartlepool's Great Escape last season.

Goalkeeper Flinders donned the armband as the north-east outfit, who were ten points adrift at the foot of Sky Bet League Two in January, avoided relegation with a game still left to play.

With Russell Penn injured and previous deputy Keith Lowe relegated to the bench, Flinders assumed that responsibility for the Minstermen during Tuesday night's 2-2 home draw with Dagenham & Redbridge.

He also received the nod over a recalled Dave Winfield, who has carried out the same duty in the past and is expected to carry on in the role for Saturday's home clash with AFC Wimbledon.

Explaining the decision, City chief Russ Wilcox, who made former York College net-minder Sam Slocombe his captain at Scunthorpe, said: "It was partly based on what Scott brought to Hartlepool last season.

"They gave him the armband when they were in trouble - a lot bigger than we are in now - and I'm hoping he can replicate some of that and inspire the team in a similar way. He's a big voice in the dressing room and that's a big part of captaincy.

"He's also been through situations like this before. As a player, you are very lucky if you only have highs all the way through your career, especially at this level so he's been there, seen it and done it.

"I asked Dave (Winfield) to concentrate on his game on Tuesday and he accepted that and was fine with it."

Winfield was recalled following a four-game absence as Lowe was dropped for the first time in his City career with Wilcox admitting: "That was a huge decision but you have to make them as manager.

"The main reason I did it was I felt Keith needed a rest and that's not a cop out. I wanted to freshen him up, but he's available again so I've got another big choice to make."

Jake Hyde is expected to start ball work in training today as he starts his comeback from hernia surgery, while fellow striker Reece Thompson is still missing due to a virus.

"Reece is still not good to go and that's worrying and frustrating," Wilcox reasoned. "With Russell Penn and Luke Summerfield as well, we've lost two key midfielders and a striker who was on fire when he first came in and would still make a difference to us whether he was starting or coming off the bench."

Penn no longer needs crutches for the ankle injury he suffered last weekend but will not feature against Wimbledon, while Summerfield continues to be assessed by doctors following his brain injury.

But there are no plans, as yet, to being in midfield reinforcements to cover for the pair with the City manager pointing out: "We've got James Berrett, Michael Collins, Eddie Nolan and Ben Godfrey to choose from so I don't think we'll be looking at that before the weekend. It might be something that's considered next week though."

Wimbledon will go into the match having only lost one of their last 11 meetings with the Minstermen, including three victories and a draw in league and cup contests last season.

Wilcox argued that past results do not mean the visitors will carry a psychological advantage ahead of this latest encounter but did warn that the threat of hulk-sized striker Adebayo Akinfenwa must be handled better than it has been previously.

He said: "We are due a win against them. There have been a lot of changes made here and there and I don't look too deeply into what's happened during previous seasons.

"It's all about this game. We maybe need to look after Akinfenwa a bit better because we all know what he brings to the table.

"Sometimes, he's hard to stop and he's a big, big player for Wimbledon so we will be doing a bit of work on looking after him because you can't just concentrate totally on yourselves when you're coming up against him. But I'm also looking at us to get up and at 'em and we need to see more balls going into the box to create more pressure."