FOOTBALL League Championship manager Nigel Adkins was reluctant to allow Australian striker Daniel McBreen to join York City on loan.

McBreen, 30, is expected to make his Minstermen debut at home to Histon in the Blue Square Premier today, despite still being part of Adkins' first-team plans at a Scunthorpe United side now plying their trade three divisions higher.

But Adkins sanctioned the one-month switch in a bid to improve McBreen's match fitness, with the former Falkirk forward not making a first-team appearance for the Iron since last November following a hamstring injury.

The 6ft 1ins striker said: "It was tough last season when I was injured, but I'm right back in the frame there now.

"The gaffer told me Billy McEwan had been in contact a couple of times, but he actually said he did not want me to go out on loan as he wants to keep the squad together.

"But, for myself, I really need to get some games under my belt. I'm over the injury now and have been in full training for two months without any problems so that's all behind me. Fortunately, the gaffer said he understood my situation when I asked if I could go out on loan and he's allowed me to come to York for 28 days.

"I've come here to get a few games and, hopefully, a few goals to help York and help myself get some fitness. I don't know what will happen at the end of the month. We will have to see as time goes by."

McBreen's path towards senior football was also blocked by the likes of Billy Sharp, Andy Keogh and Jermaine Beckford last season.

All three players have since left for Sheffield United, Wolves and Leeds respectively, but summer signings Martin Paterson and Paul Hayes have already struck up a seven-goal partnership and Ben May has arrived from Millwall to bolster Adkins' attacking options.

About the competition for places at Glanford Park, McBreen said: "The strikers were on fire last season and they are again this season. It makes things hard, but you can't expect to go straight back in after injury and with the team doing well.

"I just want to keep them on their toes and I can do that by getting away, getting match-fitness and hopefully getting that goalscoring touch back."

McBreen's last senior goal came for Falkirk in a 1-0 Scottish Premier League victory over Livingston on the last day of the 2005/2006 season.

He has also plied his trade in Australia and Romania but has no reservations about dropping into non-League football.

"I have a few friends who play in this league, such as Ash Allanson who's at Farsley," McBreen said.

"They said I wouldn't be wasting my time coming here and were very positive about the standard of football at this level.

"Wherever I am, I try to enjoy the game and I see a lot of kids coming though the apprentice schemes who don't realise what they've got.

"You don't get a YTS scheme in Australia so I worked all kind of jobs before I turned pro at 22, like most players do over there.

"I did everything - too many jobs to mention - and I know I would rather be on the training ground than sat in an office or hauling concrete all day."

McBreen played for Newcastle Jets before joining Falkirk after two years in Romania.

He went on to score 21 times during two seasons in Scotland and, when asked his strengths, said: "I'm a target man who can hold the ball up, get in the box and finish off moves.

"I've generally scored a lot of goals in the past so hopefully I can get on the end of crosses and do that for the team."

Despite being born in Burnley, he also regards himself as a very patriotic Aussie after his parents emigrated from Lancashire when he was just six weeks old.

As a consequence, he will have more than a passing interest in today's Rugby World Cup quarter-final between England and Australia.

He added: "I will be keeping an eye out for that. There hasn't been much banter because England have been rubbish for so long.

"As an Aussie over here, you always get a bit flying around the dressing-room when it comes to cricket and rugby but it doesn't last long the way England usually play."