YORK City boss Sam Collins could dip back into the transfer market following midfielder Lewis Hawkins return to parent club Hartlepool.

Hawkins picked up a knee injury in this afternoon’s 2-1 FA Trophy defeat at Harrogate Town but a decision to recall him from his City loan move had already been name by the National League outfit, following the appointment of ex-Luton and Cambridge chief Richard Money as their new manager last week.

The Middlesbrough-born 25-year-old has netted once – against Kidderminster Harriers in the Trophy – during nine outings for the Minstermen and, with fellow midfielder Simon Heslop still completing his rehabilitation from minor knee surgery, Collins is ready to put the feelers out for a potential replacement.

Only five loan players can be selected in any matchday squad and Hawkins’ departure means City now have four on the books – Joe Davis, Kennedy Digie, Alex Bray and Joe Ironside – with Collins saying: “Losing Lewis (at Harrogate) was a bit of a hammer blow, because he’s really good in that position.

“He went in for a challenge and got a kick on his knee and he’s also been called back by Hartlepool, so it was his last game for us. I’m disappointed to lose him, because I think he’s done great for us.

“I know him ever so well, having known him for a long time, so I know what he gives you on the pitch and he was having a really good game again (at Harrogate). He’s a great lad and a really good footballer and we were benefitting from having him at the club.

“But we’ll have to see if there’s anybody out there, who fits in with what we are trying to do and, if there is, I’ll then ask the question and see if we can sort something out. The option is there for us now to bring another loan player in, as I couldn’t do it before while we had five here.”

On-loan Rotherham winger Bray opened the scoring for City at Harrogate, but the hosts won through to the second round with replies from Dominic Knowles and Liam Kitching.

Collins reasoned that he was disappointed to lose the tie, but happier with his team’s response to his heavy criticism following the 2-0 defeat at Boston.

Senior pair Sean Newton and Adriano Moke dropped out of the squad altogether having started that previous match, while Alex Harris, Macaulay Langstaff and Joe Tait were all named on the bench, with Nathan Dyer, David Ferguson, Josh Law Wes York and Bray all receiving recalls.

Delivering his verdict on the Wetherby Road loss, Collins declared: “I thought we were the better team in the first half and played some really, really good football on a fast pitch. We had more than enough chances to win the game, so I’m disappointed not to get something out of it, but I was really pleased with the reaction I got from the Boston performance.

“I wanted to find out which players were with us and which weren’t, and everyone had a real go for the fans, the football club and each other by working hard and sticking together.”

On-loan Leeds left-back Kitching grabbed the winning goal on 66 minutes after an unconvincing punch by City keeper Adam Bartlett who Collins, nevertheless, respected for admitting his mistake afterwards, rather than looking for an obvious excuse.

The City boss added: “I thought Adam might have been fouled, but he held his hand up afterwards and said he thought he should have done better, which is typical of him and I can accept that because, even though it’s difficult to take because we went on and lost the game, I’d rather have honest players who admit when they make a error and he’s done very well for me up to now.”

The match was played in sub-zero temperatures with Collins revealing: “We had to run and get three or four lads a cup of tea afterwards to try and warm them up and young Nathan (Dyer) couldn’t feel his body. I can only remember one colder match I was involved in and that was away at Carlisle on a Tuesday night when (current City physio) Ian Gallagher had to take his top off and hug one of the players to get his body temperature up.

“It was probably better for the players than those of us watching, though, because they could run around to keep warm.”

The Minstermen's home match with Hereford, scheduled for Saturday, January 12, will need to be rearranged with the Bulls now in FA Trophy action that weekend following their 2-1 home win over Billericay today.