SCOTT Flinders has had his club suspension lifted at York City, but might need to go out on loan to seek first-team football.

The 30-year-old keeper had lost his place between the sticks to Luke Simpson prior to being found guilty of racial abuse by the FA for an incident involving Wimbledon striker Lyle Taylor last season.

That charge saw him incur a five-match ban and indefinite suspension from the Minstermen, but Flinders is now back in training and manager Jackie McNamara has confirmed no further action will be taken against him.

During Flinders’ absence, though, Kyle Letheren has established himself as City’s first-choice net-minder after being recruited from Blackpool, meaning one of the club’s other shot-stoppers might need to be farmed out.

City chief McNamara said: “The club suspension has finished and he’s back training with us. The FA report hasn’t come out publically yet and, once it does, it will explain things and people can see what was said and have their own thoughts on it.

“We’re not doing anything else about it and he’s serving his five-game ban and being punished. We might put one of the keepers out on loan though.

“Kyle has come in and been really good for us, not just with his saves, but with his distribution, calmness and organising, which is very important to us.”

Former Watford reserve Simpson made a mistake that saw City lose 2-1 during today’s Central Reserve League clash against Hartlepool after youth-team forward Flynn McNaughton had levelled the scores early in the second half.

The match represented the Minstermen’s first official second-string outing in seven years and McNamara added: “We didn’t deserve to lose.

“It was a bad error by Luke when he was probably thinking what to do with the ball next before he’d actually got hold of it.”

McNamara reserved his biggest praise from the match, meanwhile, for the club’s young players, in particular teenage midfield duo Sam Fielding and Tyler Walton, enthusing: “I like Sam.

“He has impressed me every time I’ve seen him and he looked strong in there with Tyler. They were both excellent.

“They maybe stood off a bit at the start and gave Hartlepool too much respect but, once they got on the front foot, they started attacks for us and their distribution was good. Tyler has been with the first team for a while now and we just want him to do things a bit quicker, but he’s getting stronger and quicker.

“Sam looks like he needs a bit of work filling out with his body shape and legs, but he’s strong as well. Arron (Brettel) also did well as our left-sided centre half and Flynn got a goal with his first touch, so it was good experience for all of them, because they won’t get a game anything like that playing for the academy.”

Justin Johnson also completed his first full game following his loan arrival from Dundee United and left-back Ben Barber featured for the first time in City colours having been sidelined by injury following his summer move from Stoke.

“It was important to get Justin 90 minutes and there were bits where you could see what he’s about,” McNamara reasoned. “He set up the goal and was unlucky with a shot that hit the post.

“He will frustrate at times but, if he can get fitter, he is a real threat with his pace and strength. Ben was limping about a bit, but he’s come through 90 minutes, even though he’s still got a bit to go before he’s pushing Whitts (Alex Whittle).”

Midfielder Charlie Wardle had been earmarked for duty in the Billington Town-hosted fixture, but trained with the first team instead with McNamara keen to run the rule over Fielding and Walton.